WIRT PRINCIPAL'S CASE CONTINUED

(11/06/2007)
A hearing for a Wirt County Middle School principal who has been charged with taking firearms onto school property was continued yesterday in a Wirt magistrate court.

James D. Hoover, 36, of Parkersburg, appeared before magistrate Janey Wigal, after being charged with two counts of unlawfully and feloniously possessing deadly weapons on educational facilities.

Hoover's attorney, George Cosenza of Parkersburg, appeared at the hearing yesterday.

The next hearing will be held on Nov. 19 at 1:30 p.m. before Wigal.

Prosecutor Maze said they are continuing to look into possible resolutions to the case.

Officials have declined to issue a comment whether or not Hoover's actions with the firearms are linked directly or indirectly to the shooting of 18-year-old Chris Griffin of Mineral Wells in what was reported to be a hunting accident.

Griffin was shot in the head with a .22-caliber rifle while squirrel hunting last month. He is recovering.

No charges have been filed in that case nor have authorities released the name of the shooter involved in the incident.

The Wirt County School system has declined to officially say if Hoover was put on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.