CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County man will spend up to the next 40 years in prison for stabbing another man to death outside the GoMart convenience store in Kanawha City nearly two years ago.
William Selbe was sentenced by Kanawha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey to the maximum of 40 years in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in the June 2024 death of Nicholas Hodge, Jr.
Selbe admitted in court that he and Hodge took drugs together and later got into an argument that turned physical. He stated that he pulled out a knife and stabbed Hodge in what he believed to be self-defense.
“I didn’t do it over money or over drugs. We was arguing over drugs, yes, but then things escalated and he started punching me in the face, and it was after that that I took my knife out and stabbed him,” he said.
Selbe addressed the court Friday on his own behalf, as did Helen Pomeroy, a family friend who said she had known Selbe for his entire life. Selbe expressed remorse to Hodge’s family over what he had done.
“It’s not something that words can fix or where to even start on an apology, but to the family, I truly am sorry for the loss that I’ve caused their family,” he said.
Melonie Dolin, Hodge’s mother, gave an emotional victim impact statement to the court, fighting back tears as she described her family’s loss. She implored Judge Bailey to impose the maximum sentence.
“Mr. Selbe pled guilty to murder because Nicholas Michael Hodge, Jr. is dead. My son died because Mr. Selbe made the decision to stab him more than one time,” she said.
Selbe will be required to serve a minimum of ten years in prison before his first parole hearing. Dolin said that while Selbe may have a future outside of prison, her son will not have the opportunity to live his life.
“As this court considers the future of Mr. Selbe, I ask that you also remember what Nicholas no longer has. Nicholas does not get another chance,” she said.