Former State Senator and Delegate Randy Schoonover being
taken into custody yesterday by Clay Sheriff Andy Holcomb

(Photo by Andy Waddell, Clay Communicator)

Former state Senator and House of Delegates member Randy Schoonover, 55, of Clay has been arrested and is being confined in Central Regional Jail after flunking a home confinement drug test.

The once popular elected official has been on a downhill slide since he was charged with illegal acts in the performance of his political duties.

He then suffered a near fatal ATV accident in 2004 and a drug arrest for delivery of a controlled substance in 2005.

In 2004 he spent 29 hours in the Clay County woods, trapped under an 800-pound ATV which nearly took his life.

Schoonover said the pain was so great, he prayed to die.

The ATV cut off circulation to his arm, which resulted in amputation.

In 2005, Schoonover was accused of delivering a Schedule II narcotic controlled substance (oxycodone) to a confidential informant at his Clay County home.