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40-year sentence in child’s murder

Judge recommends no parole for Schoonover

William Schoonover, left, awaits the start of his sentencing hearing Tuesday in Wood County Circuit Court. Also pictured is one of his attorneys, Michele Rusen. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — A Parkersburg man was sentenced to 40 years in prison Tuesday for killing a 16-month-old boy.

Speaking through tears in Wood County Circuit Court, William Schoonover said he wished he could trade his life for that of Evan Kaije Wright, who died in July 2017. The child’s mother, Breana McCartney, was Schoonover’s girlfriend at the time and had left the boy in his care. Despite initially denying any involvement in the child’s injuries, Schoonover eventually told police he shook the boy because he wouldn’t hold still during a diaper change.

“There isn’t a moment that goes by that I don’t miss him and mourn his loss,” he said in a statement in which he apologized to his family, the boy’s and the Parkersburg Police officers who investigated the case. “Every time I look in the mirror, I hate myself.”

Schoonover pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder in the case. On Tuesday, his attorney, Reggie Bailey, asked Judge Robert Waters to consider a sentence of 20 years if he did not grant probation.

McCartney and her mother, Wendy Mason, also addressed the court.

The grandmother and mother of Evan Kaije Wright brought this collage with them Tuesday to the sentencing of William Schoonover, who pleaded guilty in February to a charge of second-degree murder in the boy’s death. They asked that Schoonover be given the maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and Judge Robert Waters did so, also recommending against parole. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“He didn’t deserve to get killed by William Schoonover,” McCartney said, crying.

“My daughter will never get out of this hell,” Mason said. “I want him to get the maximum sentence because she’s got a life sentence.”

Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure recommended the maximum 40-year sentence, saying Schoonover repeatedly lied to medical personnel about how Evan sustained the injuries.

Schoonover indicated in his statement and the pre-sentencing investigation referenced by the judge and Lefebure that he lied because he was concerned he would not be able to regain custody of his own children.

Lefebure said Schoonover focused more on himself in his statement to the court than on the victim.

William Schoonover, left, is escorted out of Wood County Circuit Court by a bailiff Tuesday after being sentenced to 40 years in prison for second-degree murder in the 2017 death of 16-month-old Evan Kaije Wright. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“That might be the most narcissistic statement I’ve ever heard from a defendant in the courtroom,” Lefebure said.

Waters agreed.

“I don’t know how many times I heard the word ‘I’ in that statement,” he said.

Waters also recommended that Schoonover not be granted parole.

“In the court’s opinion, he should never be around children again,” he said, citing Schoonover’s apparent anger issues; history of domestic violence, with one conviction for domestic battery; and his delay in seeking medical treatment for Evan Wright.

“He did not tell the truth to the medical team that was trying to save Evan’s life,” Waters said.

Lefebure said doctors indicated the trauma Evan sustained was comparable to being ejected from a vehicle after a head-on collision or having a heavy object dropped on him from a height of four stories.

As part of Schoonover’s plea agreement, a charge of death of a child by a parent, guardian or custodian by child abuse was dismissed.

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