Ex-deputy due back in court next month

NEW CUMBERLAND -- A Hancock County man accused of possessing child pornography is returning to court in late November.

Hancock County Magistrate Court has scheduled Patrick Hoder, who had been a county deputy, to return for a court hearing at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11 with appointed magistrate Shannon Price.

A week ago, the court had approved a joint motion for a continuance from both special prosecutor Gail Kahle and defense attorney Robert McCoid, allowing McCoid to examine prosecutory evidence obtained through discovery.

Hoder was arrested in late August on a single count of distributing or exhibiting material depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct (600+) by West Virginia State Police after a month-long investigation.

Hancock County Sheriff Scott Gittings already had placed Hoder on administrative leave once he learned about the initial probe into Hoder, who had been a longtime K9 handler as well as oversaw some of the office's community outreach programs.

Hoder still remains out on $50,000 cash or surety bond.

The defense had asserted at that last continued hearing that the parties are working toward a possible solution as a result of what the evidence reveals.

This either could include a preliminary hearing to determine if probable cause exists or a waiver to redirect the case to Circuit Court for consideration by the Grand Jury.

If convicted, Hoder faces up to 10 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.

sujhelyi@mojonew.com