×

Parkersburg man gets judicial release

MARIETTA — A Parkersburg man who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in January received judicial release Friday morning to go to rehab.

William Schofield, 58, was sentenced after pleading guilty to a third-degree felony Operating a Vehicle under the Influence charge. He was told by the court at the time that if he was a model citizen while in prison, he could be released after six months to go to rehabilitation for substance abuse.

“He was very thin when he left, maybe 100 pounds,” said Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Derkin. “He looks healthy now. He was bad on drugs.”

His plea deal included a lifetime suspension of driving privileges, as this was the 11th conviction for driving under the influence.

Schofield was arrested in May 2018 at Main Street and the Memorial Bridge in Belpre. He appeared intoxicated and was found with methamphetamine in his possession. An open can of an alcoholic beverage was also found in his vehicle.

After giving Belpre Police officers a false name, he was then arrested and charged with six counts, including one count of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a third-degree felony; one count of aggravated possession of alprazolam, a fifth-degree felony; one count of possession of buprenorphine, a first-degree misdemeanor; one count of driving under suspension, a first-degree misdemeanor; one count of refusal to take OVI test within 20 years of prior, a first-degree misdemeanor; and one count of obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor.

Derkin said it was good that Schofield was getting treatment in rehab.

“I’m obviously pro-punishment,” he said. “But I’m also pro-rehab.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today