The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • C.L. Garvin

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January 20, 2010

Court scene

Murder defendant gets maximum sentence

By Christopher J. Jackson

FAYETTEVILLE — Tears were shed by both the Tincher and Adkins families Wednesday as Fayette County Circuit Judge John Hatcher read the maximum sentence allowed to Kyle Marshall Adkins for the second-degree murder of Ronnie Tincher.

Adkins, 22, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for stabbing 18-year-old Ronnie Tincher to death last May 9 on Allman Street in Oak Hill.

An argument between Adkins and his ex-girlfriend, Blanche Anderson, occurred at the home of Tincher’s sister, Tabitha Adkins. Tincher got between the two and was ultimately stabbed five times by Adkins, with the last wound to the heart.

Adkins apologized to everybody he hurt in the situation.

“I didn’t mean for it to happen,” he said. “I have to live with this every day.”

Adkins’ attorney, Scott Stanton, said Adkins has a history of anger problems. He has also been convicted of drug possession, driving under the influence of alcohol, obstructing an officer, battery and brandishing a deadly weapon.

Hatcher called it a tragedy.

“What happened here has destroyed or severely damaged two families,” he said to Adkins. “This death — the whole incident — came about because everybody was acting with the most immature and poorest judgment you can imagine.

“Ronnie Tincher is dead in a cold, dark grave, and your mother is here begging for you.

“... It’s all so unnecessary.”

Rosemary Adkins pleaded for Hatcher to have mercy on her son, who, according to authorities, pulled a knife on Anderson a week before Tincher’s death.

Stanton asked Hatcher to grant Adkins a reduced sentence.

“Ronnie didn’t get a second chance,” he said. “Instead of having a second young man’s life ruined, give him (Adkins) an opportunity to become a productive member of society.”

Assistant prosecutor Vickie Hylton said Adkins “deserves nothing less than the maximum allowed by law” because he came to the residence with a deadly weapon, expecting a confrontation, then fled the scene as Tincher bled to death in his sister’s arms.

Tincher’s cousin, Cammie Tincher-Wagner, drove from Florida to give a statement on behalf of Tincher, saying he would have done it for her.

“I am here to plead for justice, understanding and peace,” she said. “I propose the maximum by law plus one day to help make a statement to this young community that Ronnie Tincher’s life is worth more than one to 10 years.”

Hatcher said life is indescribably precious.

“There are young men like you all over Fayette County and you won’t be the last one sitting in that chair convicted of murder,” he said. “No matter how troubled a life is, it’s still precious and (you) cannot take it lightly and say I’m sorry.”

— E-mail: cjackson@register-herald.com

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