Former Bunner Ridge Volunteer Fire Department chief found guilty of sexually assaulting child in 90s

Esteban Fernandez, Times West Virginian, Fairmont
·2 min read
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Aug. 30—MORGANTOWN — A Monongalia County jury handed down a guilty verdict Friday in a decades-old sexual assault case involving a Marion County man.

Volunteer Fire Department Chief Roger Channell was convicted Friday of sexually assaulting a child between 1992 and 1994 in Monongalia County Circuit Court.

"This ruling is significant for the victim in that she has waited 30 years for truth to come out," Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney Gabe Mucciola said. "The state is happy to have provided justice for her in the case after all that time."

Mucciola said the state charged Channell using versions of the sex assault statutes from the 1990s. The jury found him guilty of one count of sex abuse by a parent or custodian, one count of sex abuse, one count of sex assault in the first degree and one count sex abuse in the first degree. Sentencing hasn't been scheduled yet but Channell'has been remanded into custody.

Channell is known for his years of service as chief of the Bunner Ridge Volunteer Fire Department and was instrumental in getting this year's Fire Levy extension pushed through by voters. News of Channell's indictment broke after the primary election when voters approved the fire levy.

Channell's indictment states he sexually engaged with a female child from the time when she was 9-to-11 years old. Channell was 20 at the time. Fairmont attorney David DeMoss represented Channell in the case.

The state issued its felony complaint on July 11, 2023, followed by a warrant for Channell's arrest. He posted bail July 20, 2023.

A West Virginia law prevents certain court records, criminal complaints and other investigative documents involving sex-related crimes from becoming public record. Records "identifying information of a victim in an arrest, investigation or complaint for sexual offenses," must be withheld from public release, according to a memorandum released by the state. However, once certain documents are properly redacted or have names changed to initials, they may end up in the circuit clerk's public access computer system, where any member of the public may view them.

The bill passed unanimously in the West Virginia House and Senate.

Reach Esteban at efernandez@timeswv.com