The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

November 19, 2009

Bond revoked in pharmacy robbery case

By Michelle James

A Beckley woman charged in a pair of 2008 pharmacy robberies is in jail after her bond was revoked by Raleigh County Circuit Judge Robert Burnside Thursday.

Amanda Severino, 30, is charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of conspiracy and one count of possession of oxycodone in connection to her alleged roles in the March 2008 armed robberies of the Beckley Kmart pharmacy and Beckley Pharmacy.

Within days of the alleged robberies, Severino was released on $20,000 bond and ordered to long-term drug treatment. Immediately upon completion of treatment, Severino was to have reported directly to Southern Regional Jail to await trail.

Prosecutor Kristen Keller said Severino completed 13 months of treatment in Pennsylvania but never went to jail as ordered.

Beckley police discovered the situation Nov. 11 when responding to a 911 call at a residence on Hartley Avenue.

Keller and defense attorney Chris Lefler said Severino, along with friends, including co-defendant and girlfriend Amanda Lilly, spent the evening of Nov. 10 “partying,” taking Xanax and oxycodone.

Lefler said Severino awoke the next morning to find Lilly, 25, of Prosperity, dead from an overdose.

Keller asked that Severino’s bond be revoked on grounds she did not self-report to SRJ and was abusing drugs in direct violation of the conditions of her bond.

Lefler, however, told Burnside his client, who he said was traumatized by the death of her girlfriend, had admitted herself into Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital for psychiatric treatment, and asked that the judge allow her to report to jail after she was discharged.

Keller objected, saying treatment hadn’t helped Severino before and jail was the right answer.

“If she feels guilty, awful and grief-stricken, she should,” Keller said, adding Severino herself was likely to overdose or participate in the death of others if not incarcerated.

Burnside agreed with Keller, telling Lefler his proposal had failed once before.

“The alternative proposed by the defendant might be inviting if it hadn’t been done (before),” he said.

Lilly, who was charged with the same crimes as Severino, was awaiting trial at the time of her death.

Co-defendant Rebecca Dawn Earls of Crab Orchard was convicted earlier this year and is serving concurrent sentences of 15 years for first-degree robbery and one to five years for conspiracy.

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