MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Westover man who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old was sentenced to home confinement, prompting shocked responses from the victim’s family in the courtroom Friday.
“Really,” a woman asked after Judge Russell Clawges sentenced Chad William Campbell in Monongalia County Circuit Court.
Campbell previously pleaded no contest to third-degree sexual assault. He was sentenced to serve one to five years in prison, but that sentence was suspended in lieu of home confinement. Clawges ordered him to make a one-time payment of $10 to the Monongalia County Victim Assistance Program and follow his sex offender treatment plan. Campbell will be on extended supervision for 10 years following his release. He also was ordered to not have direct or indirect contact his victim or family.
“I want to say, as far as what has occurred, I am truly sorry,” Campbell told the court.
His attorney, Dreama Sinkkanen, asked the court to sentence him probation. She said his proactive actions in seeking treatment demonstrated Campbell would be willing to comply with any terms or conditions set by the court. Since the September 2017 crime Campbell has been on medication for depression and anxiety and sought counseling.
Sinkkanen said Campbell had a solid work history until this incident and a strong family support system.
“It hurts so much to see laws so weak,” the victim’s grandmother told the court. “It’s not right he should have probation and my grandson had to live with this for the rest of his life.”
She said her grandson, 14, still has weekly counseling sessions and he shuts himself off from people.
“He should get the max,” she said.
Prosecutor Gabrielle Mucciola said the state opposed alternative sentencing and asked the court to give Campbell one to five years incarceration.
Mucciola said she found it interesting that Campbell’s version of the events in his pre-sentence investigation and sexual offender evaluation were “vastly different” than those of his victim and the lack of honesty with the probation office and his doctor concerned her.
She also argued the Department of Corrections would be able to properly enforce Campbell’s sex offender treatment plan.
“Probation is not appropriate given the nature of the offense,” Clawges said.
Story by William Dean