UPDATE 10:30 a.m. Thursday Harrison County Circuit Judge Thomas Bedell agreed Thursday to move sentencing to May 31 at 8 a.m.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. – Attorneys representing the Delaware man who shot a Clarksburg Councilman Jim Malfregeot and kidnapped his wife and mother in-law in September 2020 have asked for a delay in sentencing because a key witness is not available.
Antonio DeJesus, 35, of Wilmington, Delaware, entered a guilty plea in March to two counts of kidnapping, one count of unlawful assault, and one count of using a firearm while committing a felony.
Sentencing has been scheduled for 8 a.m. Thursday. Harrison County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Bedell has the entire day set aside for the hearing, but will consider the motion to postpone sentencing first.
Prosecutor Rachel Romano plans to ask the judge to sentence DeJesus to the maximum term of 73 years in prison. He could be eligible for parole in 20 years.
The state dismissed five other felony counts as part of the plea agreement.
DeJesus admitted to being at a friend’s house, under the influence of methamphetamine, when he thought someone shot at him, so he ran to the driveway of Malfregot’s residence and jumped into a car with the councilman’s wife and mother in-law ‘s and asked them to take him out of the area. When Malfregeot came out of the home with a gun DeJesus admitted to shooting at him and then forcing the women at gunpoint to drive away.
Malfregeot spent several days in the hospital before being released.
Additionally, DeJesus won’t be charged in Doddridge County for an incident that happened while held at the North Central Regional Jail. Authorities said those charges will be handled at the federal level.