Daniel L. Hall was taken into custody by Robert Glenn, Terry Powell and Cpl. Andy Varian of the Mason County Sheriff’s Department. Last month, he was to go to trial for sexual crimes, but the trial was postponed when it was discovered that threatening letters had been sent to the jury pool.
Hall was indicted by the May 2007 grand jury on two counts of first-degree sexual assault, two counts of incest and two counts of sexual abuse by a custodian.
The judge in the case was Fifth Circuit Judge Thomas C. Evans III.
According to Evans, prior to the trial beginning the letter allegedly was sent to the potential jurors by a supporter of the defendant. The names of the potential jury members were on a list that was sent to the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorney.
Evans questioned how someone came into possession of the jury list and said he had viewed a copy of the letter, adding that what he read was inflammatory and was more than a veiled threat.
The letters were copied to record in the court, with the originals going to Cpl. K.M. Gilley for an investigation, then sealed pending the outcome.
On March 27, Prosecuting Attorney Damon Morgan submitted a motion to have Hall’s bail revoked. Evans granted the motion, with Hall being arrested then transported to the Western Regional Jail in Barboursville. He will remain in the jail pending further notice.
According to the motion papers filed in the circuit clerk’s office, Hall had been granted bond upon conditions set forth in the West Virginia code. One of those conditions was not to violate any criminal law. On March 7, he allegedly violated that law when the letters were written and mailed. He also moved from the address in Letart to Point Pleasant but did not notify the court of the move.
No charges have been filed in connection to the jury letters because that investigation is not complete. Hall’s case has been continued to 9:30 a.m. May 11 when a new trial date will be set.
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