BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — A man charged with shooting at Morgan County sheriff’s deputies late last month after allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s home waived his right to preliminary hearings Tuesday in Morgan County Magistrate Court.
Melvin Gallion, 40, is charged with one count of malicious assault and two counts of attempted murder after the July 26 incident in the Spohrs Crossroads area east of Berkeley Springs.
Morgan County Sheriff Johnnie Walter previously told WEPM Radio’s Panhandle Live Gallion was threatening to harm his ex and two children when deputies Bradley Mechem and M. Butts got there.
“He was already inside after kicking the door in. As they pulled up they observed the female inside and the child inside and they observed them escaping out of the back (of the house) and running into the woods,” Walter said.
Walter said he believes his deputies saved the lives of the woman and the children.
“When they pulled up it distracted the suspect long enough that he went and looked out the front window. When he did that they went out the back window,” Walter said.
Mechem and Butts took cover behind a vehicle as Gallion was firing a shotgun. Walter said Gallion was moving from window to window and also shot out the front door. Mechem was struck five times. His injuries were not life-threatening.
Gallion remains in the Eastern Regional Jail on $300,000 bail on the July 26th charge.
Morgan County Prosecutor Dan James said Tuesday the state intends to present the case to a grand jury in September and if Gallion is indicted on those charges, a trial could happen in early 2026.
Gallion also waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on a strangulation charge from March 16th.
WEPM Radio’s Marsha Chwalik contributed to this story.