Hearing in Hartman Case Scheduled for Tuesday

            By LawrenceJ. Smith

              Petersburg – The criminal case against the former Hardy Countycircuit clerk for conspiring to operate a meth lab may soon come to a close.

             After a nearly 18-month hiatus, the case against Kimberly A. Hartman is again active.  A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m.

             In March 2018, a special grand jury indicted Hartman, her husband, Dennis, and another couple – William E. Brantner, and Samantha E. Beatty – on 38 counts related to operation of a methamphetamine lab from the Hartman’s home on Sunset Terrance in Moorefield. The indictment accused Kim Hartman of  two counts of accessory before the fact of  possession of pseudoephedrine, one count of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and one count of child neglect/injury.

             Since she was the Hardy circuit clerk at the time, the cases were transferred to Grant County.  Shortly following her indictment, Hartman resigned her position, and was replaced by Kelly Shockley, who won in last year’s general election to fill the unexpired term.

             Eventually, Dennis Hartman, Brantner, and Beatty entered separate guilty pleas, and sentenced to probation.  In May, Brantner received a sort jail sentence for violating the terms of his probation.

             In July 2018, the case against Kim Hartman was placed on hold after state troopers assigned to the Eastern Panhandle Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force objected to a tentative plea agreement.  Judge James W. Courrier, Jr. assigned the Mineral County Probation Office to conduct a pre-sentence investigation.

             After periodic inquiries, Chief 21^stJudicial Circuit Probation Offer Jerome DiBacco confirmed MCPO completed its investigation, and filed its report in May. 

             West Virginia Mountain State News attempted to speak with Grant County Prosecutor John Ours about not only the report, but also the nature of Tuesday’s hearing.  However, he threatened a reporter with potential criminal charges citing an inability to speak with the reporter due to his pending appeal to the state Supreme Court in a related Freedom of Information Act suit.

             Since her indictment, Kim Hartman has divorced Dennis Hartman, and is now engaged to Scott Phillips, a Hardy Countybusinessman.  A wedding is scheduled later this month in Winchester, Va.

             Grant Circuit Court, case number 18-F-22