KINGWOOD — The child abuse trial of former Preston County Dog Warden Brittaney Shearer has been moved to July 17.
Shearer, of Reedsville, was indicted last year on felony child abuse charges. According to state police, Shearer was involved in a physical confrontation with her 11-year-old daughter in April 2017 and punched the girl in the throat.
She was suspended by the county commission and then resigned from her county job after being charged.
She was set to go to trial June 13, but on Thursday Preston Assistant Prosecutor Megan Allender asked Circuit Judge Steve Shaffer to move it because she has vacation scheduled for the following week, and neither she nor defense attorney Kristin Antolini think three days will be long enough for the trial.
Antolini agreed about the three days but said Shearer did not want the trial postponed because, “the minor children need closure.” Shaffer granted the delay and allowed four days for the trial.
He also granted a motion by the state, which was not opposed by Antolini, to have the child evaluated by a psychologist. Antolini did oppose the state’s motion that the minor children be allowed to testify at the trial by closed circuit TV.
Judge Shaffer did not rule on the closed circuit TV motion Thursday. He also held in abeyance ruling on Allender’s motion that the defense not continue to use certain pyschological terminology.
Antolini said she would respond to the motion after reviewing medical evidence.
A pretrial motions hearing was set for July 9.
The judge altered the conditions of Shearer’s bond to allow her to leave the state to visit her children. He specified that she provide the court with a waiver of extradition, which could be used against her if she failed to return to West Virginia.
Shearer’s co-defendant, Robert J. Bragg, entered into a deferred adjudication last year. Under that agreement, if he completes two years of probation, he can withdraw his guilty plea to felony child abuse and plead guilty to misdemeanor child abuse and pay a $100 fine.
As part of the adjudication, Bragg agreed to testify against Shearer.
