BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — A Hedgesville man has been found guilty of Fleeing from Law Enforcement While Under the Influence of Alcohol and Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol after leading police on a car chase across two counties.
Robert Shafer was convicted Wednesday by a Morgan County jury.
A criminal complaint obtained by the Panhandle News Network reveals that on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 just before 6:30 in the evening, Trooper GC Warnick and Senior Trooper BA Meyers were dispatched to an in progress pursuit which traveled through Berkeley County and Morgan County.
“These troopers were informed that the violating suspect was involved in a domestic and a hit run prior to the pursuit,” the complaint said.
The troopers saw the suspect vehicle veering left of several several times while traveling west on Martinsburg Road.
The vehicle had “severe damage” to the front end with the hood of the vehicle obstructing the windshield.
Troopers spoke to Shepherdstown’s Police Chief Michael King who happened to be in the Hedgesville area at the main intersection in town earlier in the day when he came upon a rear end collision involving the suspect’s Subaru and another car.
He believed Shafer to be impaired. He asked both drivers to move their vehicles off the main road to await Berkeley County law enforcement, but said Shafer instead “took off traveling West bound in the East Bound lane.”
Chief King says as he gave chase, the Subaru almost struck six vehicles head on and was over the center line ‘numerous times.”
When West Virginia State Police took up the chase and got Shafer stopped in Morgan County at the intersection of Walnut Trail, he reportedly told the trooper “that he had been drinking and his blood was probably over the legal limit,” according to the criminal complaint.
After initially refusing, Shafer agreed to a breath test about an hour after the pursuit ended and blew a 0.204.
Morgan County Prosecuting Attorney Dan James tells The Panhandle News Network the case was heard in front of Judge Debra M.H. McLaughlin.
Shafer faces up to 10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June 18.