KINGWOOD – A Preston County Man was sentenced to three to 30 years in prison Friday for threatening a police officer and the officer’s family.
Steven Calvin Barrett, of Rowlesburg, pleaded guilty to three counts of making threats of retaliation against a public official. Under a plea agreement charges of domestic assault, unlawful restraint and obstructing an officer were dropped. According to criminal complaints, in January 2018, Barrett told police he wanted to shoot deputies and fly an airplane into the Preston County Courthouse. A week earlier the domestic assault charges had been filed.
Barrett’s attorney, Andrew Frye, asked the court to place his client on home confinement. “Threats were made, but there was no physical harm to any of the defendants,” he said. Fry said home confinement would allow Barrett to get counseling and spend time with his family.
“He can stay with his mother. She’ll make sure he complies with the court’s terms and meets his obligations.” He also asked the court to give Barrett credit for time served.
Two other people spoke on Barrett’s behalf: His ex-wife, Amanda Barrett, and his friend, Bill Jennings.
Amanda Barrett said she and Steven were married in 2002 and divorced in 2013. “I’ve known him for 17 years. We have two children together. He’s a very quiet man. I ask the court to let him go home. His children miss him,” she said.
“I’ve known Steven for 25 or 30 years. He’s a good man. He’d do anything for anybody,” Jennings said. “I did mechanic work with him. He’d give you the shirt off his back.”
Barrett apologized. “I was under the influence of drugs and alcohol for three days before the incident happened. I’d like to apologize to the officer and his family and the court.”
Preston Circuit Judge Steve Shaffer told Barrett, “the six charges you were charged with are serious charges. You said you would like to apologize to the officer and his family. The biggest thing you said today was that you were under the influence of drugs and alcohol for three days.”
The judge mentioned Barrett crying when the court took his children away and when his father came to offer support.
“I believe you are a good man. But when I sit here and look at these charges – threatening to find and kill Deputy Stockett and his family in retaliation. We have a man doing his job. Putting his life on the line every day to protect the community. Every time he pulls over a car, he puts his life on the line,” Shaffer said.
“You threatened to rape the wife of Deputy Stockett in retaliation and you threatened to beat the children of Deputy Stockett in retaliation,” Shaffer said.
He then asked Amanda Barrett and Jennings how they would feel if someone threatened them like that. “Upset and distraught,” Amanda Barrett said.
Shaffer said he looked at the pre-sentencing report. “When you were 16 years old you were charged with murder. Then I hear you were on drugs and alcohol for three days. I believe if you had the opportunity you would have carried out your threats. Would it have taken drugs and alcohol for you to do it? I believe it would.”
Shaffer sentenced Barrett to one to 10 years for each of the three counts to run consecutively, plus court costs, and gave him credit for time served.
