ELKINS, W.Va. — A 33-year-old Valley Bend man is facing serious charges, including burglary and arson, after a disturbing incident involving a neighbor’s porch. Roy Allen Carr appeared for a preliminary hearing in Randolph County Magistrate Court, where the evidence was deemed sufficient for the case to advance to a grand jury.
Carr’s attorney, Paul Gwaltney, represented him during the Tuesday afternoon session. Carr is currently detained at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail, where he awaits trial on a cash-only bond of $35,000.
Magistrate Tracy Harper presided over the hearing, which featured testimonies that painted a chaotic scene. The alleged victim recounted a confrontation on May 18, when Carr reportedly began banging on the screen door of the victim’s porch. Despite being told to leave, Carr allegedly broke the glass of both the screen and entry doors.
In a follow-up with police, the victim noted the extensive damage, describing shattered glass and wood strewn across the porch and even a hole in the side of his trailer. Tragically, two of his cats were later found dead behind a garbage bag outside the residence. The victim also mentioned that gasoline had been poured out on the porch, adding another layer of alarm to the situation.
The witness stated that he had no prior issues with Carr and had even offered him a mattress earlier that day during a visit to a neighbor’s house. During cross-examination, Gwaltney attempted to explore any potential motives or prior disputes between Carr and the alleged victim, which were denied by the witness.
Trooper Thomas J. Sclimenti of the West Virginia State Police also took the stand, affirming that he had previously responded to a domestic dispute in the area earlier on the same day. When he returned to the scene, he saw Carr staggering off the porch just as he was alerted that the porch was on fire. Sclimenti managed to extinguish the flames and reported finding broken glass, a knocked-over gas can, and a surviving kitten in the aftermath.
Carr reportedly admitted to smashing the doors in an attempt to confront the alleged victim, claiming that he felt provoked by threats made against his daughter. Sclimenti testified that Carr had openly confessed to setting the fire on the porch.
During the closing arguments, Gwaltney argued that Carr’s actions should not classify as burglary since he did not enter the victim’s home. In contrast, Assistant Prosecutor Leckta Poling asserted that Carr’s intentions were clear from his admissions, and that the porch was integral to the home’s structure.
The case now moves forward for further examination by a grand jury, as authorities continue to gather evidence surrounding this alarming incident.
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