PARKERSBURG – Defendants accused of robbery and strangulation and child neglect in separate incidents appeared before Wood County Magistrates on Tuesday.

Jacob Levi Shields, 28, 136 Scenic View Ridge, Sandyville, was arrested Sept. 5 after an investigation of a robbery at 646 Liberty St. in Parkersburg according to a criminal complaint in magistrate court. The victim, who alleged Shields struck him in the face and removed his jacket, necklace and shoes from his person, all valued at $150, was led to another room where Shields asked him to empty his pockets, the complaint said.

When the victim refused, Shields kicked him in the head and took $110 off his person, the complaint said.

Shields also struck the victim in the face, causing him to bleed and resulting in the victim being taken to an emergency room for treatment of four fractures in his eye area, the complaint said. The detective noticed swelling, lacerations and bruising to the victim’s face, the complaint said.

Probable cause was found on a charge of first-degree robbery including partial strangulation/suffocation/striking/beating for Shields and he was transferred to Wood County Circuit Court, according to magistrate court.

Shields is being held at North Central Regional Jail.

Joshua Kenneth Murphy, 31, 1247 Kanawha Parkway, Elizabeth, was arrested in November 2019 after officers responded to River Road in Davisville for an unresponsive subject in a car, according to a criminal complaint filed with magistrate court. He appeared before Magistrate Joe Kuhl.

Murphy was found laying on the ground outside the car and was given two doses of Narcan, the complaint said.

Murphy’s fiancee was the passenger in the car and their 1-year-old child was in the backseat, the complaint said.

His fiancee said Murphy turned purple while he was driving and she asked him to pull over so she could administer rescue breaths, the complaint said. Murphy had prior convictions of driving on a suspended license, according to the complaint.

Murphy pleaded guilty to child neglect by parent creating risk of bodily injury and was sentenced to jail for 30 days, suspended for one year of probation with credit for two days served by Magistrate Brenda Marshall.

He was ordered to continue treatment at St. Joseph’s Recovery Center and was assessed $440.50 in court costs and fines.