Kidnapping

A Martinsburg woman was handed a long prison sentence Thursday for kidnapping and stealing a vehicle three years ago as a 16-year-old girl was sleeping in the back. Presiding 23rd Circuit Judge Gina M. Groh heeded emotional pleas from the victim and her mother that Sara A. Woods, 38, of Martinsburg, be given the maximum sentence for putting them through a terrifying ordeal on Dec. 14, 2008, followed by more than three years of court appearances as the case made its way through the legal system.

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has upheld the sentencing of man who pleaded guilty to the June 2009 kidnapping and fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend, according to opinion filed Friday. Donald B. Surber Jr. was sentenced in August 2010 to serve two life sentences without the opportunity for parole in connection with Katherine Nicole Sharp's death. He was also ordered to serve a three- to 15-year term for attempted kidnapping, one to 15 years for burglary, one to 10 years for destruction of property, six months for domestic assault and five years for attempted escape.

Washington County District Judge Ralph H. France II on Thursday set bond at $300,000 for a Hagerstown man charged with beating and kidnapping his fianc, court records say. Anthony D. Goles, 29, of 935 Concord St., was charged with first-degree assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping and two counts of second-degree assault in connection with a Wednesday incident. The incident at 802 W. Washington St. began at 4:30 a.m. when Catherine Penkszyk was grabbed by the throat, punched repeatedly, forced into a vehicle and forced to drive to Frederick, Md., and back, records say. Court records allege that a threat was made to kill her and her family.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A man who allegedly punched, kicked and choked a woman before shoving her into the trunk of her car last month was arraigned Sunday morning. Brandon D. Green, 20, of Wrangler Drive in Martinsburg, faces charges of malicious wounding, kidnapping and grand larceny auto, all felonies. He was being held in Eastern Regional Jail Sunday night on $70,000 bail. The alleged assault happened on July 9, after Misty Dawn Hyson, 24, went to Green's home to go car shopping with a friend, Amber Cummerit, who is Green's girlfriend, according to West Virginia State Trooper M.M. Kingery.

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - A Chambersburg, Pa., man acquitted last month of an attempted murder charge is being sought by Pennsylvania State Police in connection with a kidnapping and robbery Monday that began in Cumberland County, Pa. According to the police report, warrants have been issued for the arrest of Donald Troy "Peanut" Houser on charges of robbery, kidnapping, assault, criminal conspiracy and firearms violations. A Franklin County, Pa., jury on Aug. 14 acquitted Houser, 25, of 30 W. South St., of a charge of attempted homicide in a July 20, 1997, drive-by shooting in the borough.

andrear@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A woman charged with kidnapping and grand larceny agreed Thursday to waive her preliminary hearing. Shackled and teary-eyed, Amber Crummit, 20, spoke little during her appearance before Magistrate Carleton DeHaven at the Berkeley County Magistrate Court in Martinsburg. Crummit's attorney, Randy Rhodes, waived her preliminary hearing and acknowledged that the move was voluntary. Crummit faces charges in a case involving the July 9 assault and kidnapping of 24-year-old Misty Dawn Hyson, who police have alleged was assaulted and thrown in the trunk of her car then escaped on Interstate 70 near Clear Spring.

Monday, May 23 9 p.m. on ABC "Nick & Jessica's Tour of Duty" Emulating top entertainers of earlier generations, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson entertain American troops overseas, joined by a big cast of fellow celebrities. They include Big & Rich, Jimmy Kimmel, Brian McKnight, Willie Nelson, and Nick's brother and sidekick, Drew Lachey. 9 p.m. on PBS "American Experience" In 1974, the kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst brought a media frenzy of a sort that was uncommon at the time.