MORGANTOWN — The man responsible for wounding a woman in a shooting outside of Club Exotica in April pleaded guilty to several felonies in Monongalia County Circuit Court on Tuesday.
Fred L. Hudson, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawful assault and wanton endangerment. He was indicted on both charges, as well as prohibited person in possession of a firearm, by the May 2019 term of the Monongalia County grand jury. The firearm possession charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement.
If the case had gone to trial the state would have shown that Hudson shot a gun several times outside of Club Exotica in the early morning hours of April 20, Assistant Prosecutor Chad Noel said. One of the shots struck the victim, Angela Wolfe, in the leg and other people were in the area and could have been hit.
Hudson admitted to his involvement to a detective with the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department during an interview on April 24, Noel said.
Judge Debra Scudiere also accepted Hudson’s guilty plea to prohibited person in possession of a firearm from a December 2018 incident. He was not indicted on this charge and pleaded to the prosecutor’s information.
Noel said on Dec. 15 an officer with the Morgantown Police Department stopped Hudson on Beechurst Avenue and found him with a silver and black pistol. As a previously convicted felon — including a conviction for assaulting an officer in Michigan — Hudson is not allowed to have guns.
Hudson has been in North Central Regional Jail since April 24. Before sentencing, a pre-sentence investigation will be conducted and Wolfe will have the opportunity to submit a victim impact statement.
Wanton endangerment carries a statutory sentence of one to five years in prison, or, at the court’s discretion, not more than a year in jail and/or fined $250-$2,500.
Unlawful assault carries a possible penalty of one to five years in prison, or not more than a year and jail with a fine of no more than $500.
Felon in possession of a firearm is punishable by up to five years incarceration and/or fined not more than $5,000.
