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    Brent Kelly sentenced in shooting death of Nicholas County Deputy Thomas Baker

    By Isaac Taylor,

    1 days ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=19fMD3_0vUHrW4400

    NICHOLAS COUNTY, WV (WOWK) — Brent Kelly, the man charged in connection to the death of Nicholas County Deputy Thomas Baker back in June 2022, was sentenced on Thursday.

    In July, Kelly pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate in possession of firearm, and no contest to voluntary manslaughter.

    Kelly was sentenced to 15 years in prison on the voluntary manslaughter charge, and another 1-5 years on the conspiracy charge. These two will run one after the other and he will get credit for time served.

    He was originally charged and later indicted for first-degree murder. According to the Nicholas County Circuit Clerk’s Office, he pleaded not guilty to murder and several other charges on May 16, 2023 .

    This all comes after Deputy Thomas Baker and suspect Richie Holcomb were both killed in a shootout on June 3, 2022 . Cpl. J. Ellison received an injury to his leg.

    Friends, family remember Nicholas County Deputy Sgt. Tom Baker two years after death

    According to a criminal complaint filed in Nicholas County Magistrate Court, the incident began when Nicholas County 911 dispatchers received a call regarding the alleged destruction of property on Holcomb Street in Birch River. The complaint states deputies were advised the two suspects, Kelly and Richie Holcomb were allegedly “held up in a camper with a possible 9mm AR-15.”

    Four deputies, including Baker, responded to the location of the camper on Fire House Road in Birch River. One of the deputies contacted dispatchers around 7:05 p.m. stating two men were inside the camper and talking with authorities and that authorities were waiting on Ellison and his K-9 to arrive at the scene, the complaint said.

    Deputies said during that time, the men allegedly became “non-cooperative and barricaded themselves within the camper.

    According to the 911 log, shots fired from within the camper were first reported around 7:35 p.m. The log states the first report of an officer hit came in at 7:40 p.m., and that by 7:42 p.m., a second officer had been hit. The log states an officer was reportedly pinned down at 7:45 p.m.

    The complaint states that Kelly was taken into custody around 8:26 p.m. The camper was then cleared for the officers’ safety. Authorities said they then found Holcomb dead near the rear of the RV and allegedly in possession of a semi-automatic assault-style rifle.

    In February 2023, Melanie Clodfelter, of Summersville, was sentenced in connection to the case after pleading guilty to false statements she made regarding the firearm that was used to kill Deputy Baker.

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    She was arrested for, and later admitted to, purchasing the semi-automatic rifle for Richie Holcomb, who was a convicted felon. According to the DOJ, Clodfelter said she lied on a Federal Firearms Transaction Record Form to purchase the firearm. Clodfelter falsely claimed she was the buyer of the gun when she was actually purchasing it for Holcomb, the DOJ said.

    Kelly is also the plaintiff in a pending lawsuit against members of the West Virginia State Police alleging officers “savagely beat, strike, and batter him about the head while he was in custody, defenseless, and helpless to protect himself.” It also said the defendants “chose not to intervene or otherwise act to prevent, halt, or stop.”

    Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOWK 13 News.

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    Comments / 1
    Add a Comment
    Donald Adkins
    1d ago
    I don't like this he was involved in the murder of a friend and a great person everyone in the country should be upset with this the police officer protects every person in the county and this shouldn't happen They deserve respect and I think Kelly should have been in prison for the rest of his life.Thomas Baker a great person a friend and a great police officer.give all police officers respect and they protect you.
    View all comments
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