The West Virginia State Police, in cooperation with Ohio police, have a sex offender behind bars.
Prosecutors allege Stephen
Paul Hartwell, 40, a former
resident of Hurricane, failed
to register his change of
address.
Trooper J.P. Murphy,
Jr.,
obtained warrants on
Hartwell and he was
On Monday, September
18th, 2006, Hartwell waived
his right to extradition and
was returned to Putnam
County on Wednesday,
September 20th, 2006 by
Trooper Murphy and
Trooper R.A. Phillips.
Hartwell was arraigned before Putnam County Magistrate Linda Hunt and she set his bond at $3,000.00 cash or surety.
As of Thursday morning, Hartwell was lodged in the Western Regional Jail awaiting a hearing on the charges.
According to the West Virginia State Police web site, Hartwell was convicted in 2002 of two counts First Degree Sexual Abuse involving a girl that was 6-12 years old. He served approximately 4 years in a correctional facility. After release he is required to register his residence with the local law enforcement agency.
