Former Berkeley County commissioner's attackers sentenced

Jennifer Marie Barnhart, Brian Lance Shamburg, and Ronald Lee Shamburg are expected to serve at least 13 years in prison before being eligible for parole

April 03, 2012|By MATTHEW UMSTEAD | matthew.umstead@herald-mail.com

Herald-Mail file photo

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Three people accused of attacking and robbing a former Berkeley County commissioner last summer are expected to serve at least 13 years in prison before being eligible for parole, according to a Berkeley County assistant prosecuting attorney.

Jennifer Marie Barnhart, 32, Brian Lance Shamburg, 31, and Ronald Lee Shamburg, 23, all of Martinsburg, were each sentenced Tuesday by 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge Gray Silver III to 40 years in prison for first-degree robbery, one to five years in prison for conspiracy and two to 10 years in prison for malicious assault.

Silver ordered that the prison terms be served consecutively, according to Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gregory K. Jones.

The defendants also were ordered to pay $2,785 in restitution, and drug treatment was recommended by the court, Jones said.

Strauss, who gave a victim impact statement, drove himself to City Hospital in Martinsburg for treatment after the July 2011 robbery, police have said.

Strauss told police then that he was beaten in the face and shocked with a stun gun on his stomach and legs more than 20 times. The assailants took $1,000 in cash from Strauss’ wallet, as well as his mobile phone, police have said.

Jones said all three defendants admitted to robbing Strauss because they wanted cash, and all of them claimed to have drug problems.

Silver’s sentencing terms exceeded the state’s recommendations, which would have allowed the defendants to be eligible for parole after serving 10 years in prison, Jones said.

Prior to Tuesday’s hearing, all three defendants pleaded guilty to single counts of first-degree robbery, conspiracy and malicious assault as part of plea agreements that left the judge with discretion in sentencing. Single counts of burglary and assault during the commission of a felony were dismissed against each defendant as part of the agreements.

Strauss served on the county commission, now known as the county council, for one year in 1992, after he was appointed to fill out an unexpired term. He was elected to serve in 1996, but the state Supreme Court awarded the seat to another person because of residency requirements. He was elected to the commission again in 2000 and opted not to run again after serving a six-year term.

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