KINGWOOD — A plea to an information was dismissed Thursday in Preston Circuit Court when the defendant confessed to another crime.
Mercedes Gardner, of Terra Alta, was scheduled to plead to felony receiving and transferring stolen property, when she admitted to stealing a car.
Preston Circuit Judge Steve Shaffer stopped the proceedings and called assistant prosecutor Savannah Wilkins and defense attorney Lance Rollo to the bench. After a brief discussion, he told Gardner to join them.
“I already lost everything,” Gardner said “I just want to get my life together.”
According to Wilkins, on April 4, Preston Deputy Sheriff Lt. T.E. Mitter saw a 2006 Cobalt blocking Eliason Road. Craig Langworthy was driving. There was black tape over the car ID plate, and the registration card and temporary plate were registered to 2005 Cobalt owned by Gardner.
She said the Cobalt was stolen from Ball Pre-Owned Auto in Terra Alta. Wilkins said a radio was stolen from a second car and placed in the Cobalt, and there was a safe on the floorboard. Inside was suspected marijuana, small bags and a small bag with a residue that tested positive for meth, Wilkins said.
“The court will not permit you to plead to something you didn’t do,” Shaffer told Gardner. “The prosecuting attorney will dismiss the charges and will charge you with grand larceny.” He said Gardner will still have to pay restitution of $1,500 for the radio and $2,200 for the stolen vehicle.
Following the hearing, Wilkins said either a new plea agreement will be offered or Gardner will go to trial.
“We’re back to square one,” she said.
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