The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Police/Courts

October 26, 2009

Glen White man who scuffled with bishop sentenced

By Michelle James

A 40-year-old Glen White man, who scuffled with a bishop after kicking in the door to St. Basil’s Catholic Church in Beckley, was sentenced to probation in Raleigh County Circuit Court Monday.

Judge John Hutchison sentenced Christopher Bonham, of Glen White, to one to three years for attempt to commit nighttime burglary, but suspended the term and ordered Bonham to complete five years’ probation with in-patient substance abuse treatment.

Bonham was arrested in February after he kicked in a door at the church and struggled with 60-year-old Bishop Patrick Taylor, before fleeing toward Pagoda Motel.

The bishop struck Bonham in the head during the scuffle.

Defense attorney Marcia Hebb told Hutchison that Bonham, who has both drug and alcohol addictions, needed help in dealing with an incident that occurred more than 20 years ago when he was sexually assaulted and left tied to a tree.

Bonham, who told Hutchison getting “cracked in the head by a preacher was the best thing that ever happened to me,” added that he is just beginning to come to terms with the incident and asked that the judge sentence him to long-term probation so he might have the opportunity and assistance in overcoming his addictions.

Chief deputy prosecutor Tom Truman told Hutchison he recalled Bonham’s “horrific” assault and said he believed probation with mandatory treatment might be the best remedy.

Hutchison told Bonham he was “taking a heck of a chance” in sentencing him to probation and ordered him to complete long-term in-patient substance abuse treatment within the first year of his probation.

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Also Tuesday, 25-year-old Brandi Bolen, formerly of Glen Daniel, received a one- to five-year suspended sentence with three years’ probation for felony child concealment.

In March 2008, Bolen was ordered to bring her son to an emergency custody hearing, but instead, she took the young child and hid inside the old Mount View Elementary School near Arnett.

She was arrested four days later.

Defense attorney Gary Frasher told Hutchison his client had a drug problem, but said she has been clean, except for one instance, since completing a six-month treatment program in Charleston.

“She has made every effort in the last year and a half to fix her life,” Frasher said.

Hutchison told Bolen he was impressed with her progress, but said she had “created quite a stir” when she disappeared with her son.

Hutchison said Bolen’s probation could be transferred to Kanawha County, where she now resides.

— E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com

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