MARLINTON, W.Va. — A former Pocahontas County sheriff’s deputy was sentenced Friday to 10 to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing a woman that he had arrested.
“You’re going to start serving time today,” Circuit Judge Jim Rowe told Bradley Totten of Hillsboro. Totten will have to serve at least 10 years before there’s a chance for parole.
The sentencing brought to a close an emotional case that was first brought to light publically when Totten was indicted in April 2012.
He was indicted twice on a total of 66 counts claiming that from 1995 to 2010 he would arrest women and teenagers and then force them to have sex with him. There were believed to have been at least 20 victims. Totten eventually pleaded guilty to a single count of sexual abuse involving a 17-year-old girl. There were multiple assaults of the same victim.
Totten apologized during Friday’s hearing but Judge Rowe appeared upset with some of the things the former deputy said in a written statement. The judge read some of it in court. He said it appeared Totten was claiming to be the victim.
“The bottom line—you used a position of trust over a 17-year-old to have sex,” the judge said.
Rowe said the length and magnitude of the conduct “has done extensive damage to law enforcement, criminal justice, the community and families.”
The judge added “even prepubescent females were at risk” due to Deputy Totten’s conduct.
Special Prosecutor Brian Parsons said it was a difficult case but a correct sentence.
“On one hand you hate to see a person removed from their family but on the other side the damage that’s been done is very hard to calculate,” Parsons told the Pocahontas Times. “I think in light of the totality of the crime and in light of his situation, I do think it’s fair.”
Parsons credits the work of State Police Lt. Rob Simon and FBI Special Agent Fred Aldridge.
Totten, who has been on home confinement, asked the judge to allow that to continue but it was denied. He was fined $5,000 and taken to jail. The judge did order protective custody.
None of the victims spoke in court Friday.