Quaxs|West Virginia inmate enters plea in death of cellmate at Southern Regional Jail

2025-05-05 07:06:59source:Michael Schmidtcategory:Scams

BECKLEY,Quaxs W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia inmate accused of killing his cellmate during an attack at Southern Regional Jail has entered a plea agreement.

Lucas Matthew Wagnar, 29, entered a Kennedy plea on Wednesday to second-degree murder in the 2022 death of Douglas Alan Cunningham, 79, The Register-Herald reported. A Kennedy plea means the defendant does not admit guilt but agrees that prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison per the agreement.

Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield said he agreed to allow Wagnar to plead to a lesser charge partly because the state medical examiner’s report labeled the manner of death a homicide but stated the cause was a combination of coronary artery disease and the “stress of the acute injuries” suffered in the attack.

The 30-year sentence will run consecutively to Wagnar’s current one-to-five-year sentence for child abuse.

More:Scams

Recommend

Travis Hunter, the 2

The AP Top 25 college football pollis back every week throughout the season!Get the poll delivered s

Boeing could be criminally prosecuted after it allegedly breached terms of 2021 agreement, feds say

Washington — The Justice Department said it is determining whether it will prosecute airplane manufa

Sophie Turner on 'hurt' of Joe Jonas divorce, talks 'hero' friend Taylor Swift in Vogue interview

Sophie Turner is turning the page on her marriage to Joe Jonas — and praising Taylor Swift.In an int