POINT PLEASANT — Monday was a full day for the Mason County court system.

Several preliminary hearings were scheduled in the magistrate court, with magistrates hearing five felony cases.

One of those cases had to be heard by a neighboring county magistrate. Jackie Casto of Jackson County was asked to hear the case against Dorist Franklin Bonecutter III, 43, of Point Pleasant, who was arrested March 11 by Sgt. Jimmy Reynolds and Lt. Shawn Ross of the Point Pleasant Police Department on a charge of attempted nighttime burglary.

Bonecutter, along with Penny R. Hindy, 40, also of Point Pleasant, allegedly attempted to break into a Point Pleasant home after they knocked on the door. The owner, who was inside at the time of the incident, did not answer the door.

Before Bonecutter’s preliminary hearing, he agreed to enter a plea on a lesser charge of trespassing. The penalty for the misdemeanor charge is a fine of up to $100.

Two people who were arrested in connection with a methamphetamine lab in southern Mason County also appeared before the magistrates for a preliminary hearing Monday.

James L. Smith Jr., 32, of Apple Grove, and Kimberly L. Kirk, 22, of Bidwell, Ohio, waived their preliminary hearings Monday. Kirk appeared before Magistrate Cheryl Ross, with Smith appearing before Magistrate Gail Roush.

Both are charged with operating a clandestine lab and exposure of children to methamphetamine manufacturing. An infant, who was inside the home, was placed in the custody of a relative.

Ross also granted a reduction of bond for Kirk from $100,000 to $10,000 as well as home confinement in Gallia County if officials in that county agree to accept her in the program.

Another man who was charged with possession of drugs also waived his preliminary hearing Monday. Charles C. Sullivan, 40, of West Columbia, was arrested March 20 for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance - Xanax, possession with intent to manufacture marijuana and possession with intent to deliver heroin.

Sullivan appeared before Roush, who granted a bond reduction to $50,000.

The three cases have been bound to circuit court.

Several defendants also appeared before Mason County Circuit Judge David Nibert, which included sentencing and pleas.

David Lynn Darst of Mason entered a plea of not guilty during an arraignment hearing. Darst was indicted by the May 2007 grand jury for two counts of breaking and entering and two counts of petit larceny.

Nibert denied bond and set a trial date for May 12. A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for April 7.

• Jarrett Allen Fields was sentenced to 1-10 years in a West Virginia penitentiary for forgery and uttering. He has been serving time on Day Report, but his attorney James Casey said he has suffered two relapses for drug addiction.

Although Casey asked Nibert to give Fields one more chance, Nibert denied the request and had him remanded to custody.

• Casey made a motion to be removed as attorney of record in the State v. Thomas Robert Mallette. He claimed there was a conflict of interest due to another client being involved in the case.

Mallette appeared before Nibert on a motion for bond revocation. Nibert continued the case until April 13.

• Lewis Thomas Taylor of Mason was given a suspended sentence and placed on probation for two years. Taylor was indicted by the May 2006 grand jury for false pretenses and grand larceny. He has since made restitution to the victim.

• Nicole Ann Stewart had a hearing to waive extradition. She had been arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant.

• Nibert set a hearing date for Martin D. Roush. On April 18, Nibert will issue a ruling in Roush’s case.