West Virginia

WSAZ Investigates | Hidden Camera Spurs Potential Lawsuits

Published

2 years ago

March 29, 2023

WSAZ Investigates | Hidden Camera Spurs Potential Lawsuits

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – No less than eight ladies are making ready to file go well with in opposition to the state of West Virginia, their claims associated to a hidden digicam system in a ladies’s locker room on the State Police Academy in Institute.

The hidden digicam is only one in a sequence of allegations of wrongdoing in opposition to high-ranking members of the West Virginia State Police.

The allegations are made in two nameless letters — each obtained by WSAZ and despatched to state officers final month.

One letter said a trooper, who has since died, constructed the hidden digicam system and the recordings from the system have been later discovered on a thumb drive and destroyed.

Teresa Toriseva, an legal professional who works out of Wheeling, West Virginia, instructed WSAZ NewsChannel 3′s Curtis Johnson that she represents two retired state troopers and one civilian member of the family, all of whom declare they used the locker room and declare their proper to privateness was violated.

“How have been they affected by this?” Johnson requested Toriseva.

“Their primary worry is retaliation,” she replied. “They’re in worry of who taped me doing what within the non-public confines of a lady’s locker room. They’re in worry for his or her bodily security. They’re in worry for — are there photos of me on the Web nude?”

Toriseva and her three purchasers notified the state about their intent to file go well with. Their discover is one among three separate notices acquired in current weeks by the state Lawyer Basic’s workplace. In all, no less than eight ladies are making ready to go to courtroom.

In the meantime, Republican Gov. Jim Justice and his interim head of the State Police, Col. Jack Chambers, issued an apology final week, “to any feminine who was victimized by the hidden digicam within the State Police Coaching Academy locker room.”

Johnson requested the governor about that apology Tuesday.

“Do you guys have cause now to imagine that there are a number of ladies on that digicam?” Johnson requested.

“I don’t have any cause to imagine that, besides that is simply what I believe,” Justice replied. “You realize, simply how a lot sense does it actually make to suppose that there was a hidden digicam? There was just one thumb drive, there was just one particular person.

“You realize, why on this planet, wouldn’t we surprise who all else might have been concerned? Who all else might have been filmed? Who all else might have been invaded? I imply, to me, it’s the final word insult to ladies,” he added.

WSAZ has been asking that query for weeks.

The governor’s response has been a lot completely different than that of his former head of the State Police, Jan Cahill, in early March.

“When have been you made conscious of it?” Johnson requested March 10.

“Late 2020,” Cahill replied.

“Was all people that was in these movies notified?” Johnson requested.

“There was just one particular person,” Cahill replied. “That letter that you just’re holding, I believe mentioned there was tens of hours of footage and 10 folks. We have been by no means instructed, however only one particular person.”

Cahill held agency on that reply when Johnson requested once more after his resignation.

“You preserve, just one particular person was on that video?” Johnson requested March 21. “Is that correct?”

“That’s correct,” Cahill replied. “It’s what was reported to me in late 2020. One particular person. One occasion. One, I suppose you’ll name it, thumb file.”

“And to someone who would say there’s a number of ladies on that video, what would you say,” Johnson adopted.

“I’d say, that’s not what was ever reported to me,” Cahill replied.

However Toriseva says her purchasers have questions, and so does the governor.

“What’s your response to these lawsuits?” Johnson requested Justice.

“Can’t blame them,” Justice replied Tuesday. “That’s my response wholeheartedly. I imply, you realize, if I had been a feminine, and I had been in there, and I knew now that there was a hidden digicam, I’d be mad, I’d actually query what was happening. Can’t blame them.”

“Are you able to inform us something the timeline for when that digicam was arrange?” Johnson requested.

“I can let you know what I believe I do know,” Justice mentioned. “I believe I do know 2015. I’m not — none of us, I suppose will ever actually know, however an investigation is warranted and possibly we’ll get extra info from that.”

“Have you learnt if the digicam was eliminated when the particular person died?” Johnson requested.

“I don’t know that,” Justice replied. “I don’t know that.”

Investigating the hidden digicam system now falls to Cahill’s substitute, Chambers. He was second-highest rating trooper at State Police when he retired in late 2015, then taking a task with the State Capitol Police simply days into 2016.

However with the alleged perpetrator deceased and the thumb drive destroyed, Johnson wished to know what the folks of West Virginia might count on.

“What might be completed to make progress in that investigation?” Johnson requested. “What ought to folks search for as potentialities of what you are able to do at this level?”

“Once more, in the event that they’re saying ‘16, they’re backing up in to ‘15, I’m unsure they will, anyone may even present when the digicam was in there,” Chambers replied throughout a March 22 press convention. “I imply, Lord, I had no data of it in ‘15 once I was there and I used to be on the Academy each morning understanding at six o’clock.”

“It’s eight years now, about seven or eight years now, so the one factor you are able to do is look into it and refer it, if you’ll, if it’s nonetheless within the statute of limitations or if it’s not,” Chambers added.

Justice mentioned Tuesday that disciplinary motion remains to be doable in opposition to who destroyed the onerous drive.

Toriseva hopes a lawsuit will deliver definitive solutions.

“What’s your hope to your purchasers on this?” Johnson requested Toriseva.

“That we create a greater surroundings for feminine cops who’ve to coach on the West Virginia State Police Academy,” she replied. “Two, that that is uncovered absolutely and that everyone accountable reply for that.”

In West Virginia, its a requirement to inform the state 30 days forward of submitting a lawsuit in opposition to any state company. As soon as that point has handed, the precise lawsuits might be filed.

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West Virginia

Predicting the winners of the 2024 West Virginia high school football playoffs first round

Published

3 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Predicting the winners of the 2024 West Virginia high school football playoffs first round

The West Virginia high school playoffs begin tonight with a full slate of games on the table.

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Hurricane

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Nitro

4:00 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Phillip Barbour

2024 WVSSAC Class AA high school football bracket

First-round matchups

(1) Tug Valley vs. (16) Tolsia

Score Predictions for West Virginia’s Senior Day Game vs. UCF

Published

12 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Score Predictions for West Virginia’s Senior Day Game vs. UCF

Picking up a win this weekend means the West Virginia Mountaineers are going bowling. It’s been an extremely disappointing season to this point, but WVU can put an end to their woes at home by taking down a UCF team that has lost six of its last seven.

Here is how we see this Saturday’s game going between WVU and UCF.

The challenge doesn’t get any easier this week for new WVU defensive coordinator Jeff Koonz, who will have to gameplan for the nation’s third-leading rusher, RJ Harvey. UCF is and always will be a run-first football team under Gus Malzahn, but they have found an answer at quarterback over the last couple of games with freshman Dylan Rizk, giving them more of a balanced approach.

For the most part this season, West Virginia has had success defending the run. They rank fifth in the Big 12 in run defense and 50th nationally in yards allowed per carry (4.0). Although Rizk opens up UCF’s offense, I still believe Malzahn will want to remain confident in his superstar running back and try to lean on WVU’s front. With less-than-ideal weather conditions expected to be in play, it should keep UCF from wanting to spin it a bunch, which is great news for a weak Mountaineer secondary.

Whether it was the season opener versus Penn State, the Backyard Brawl against Pitt, the Coal Rush game versus Iowa State, or another primetime game against Kansas State, WVU has not handled distractions all that well this season. Senior Day can certainly provide a lot of distractions with all of the emotions that go into it, but I believe Garrett Greene, Wyatt Milum, and Co. will walk out of Milan Puskar Stadium as winners.

I’m going with the Mountaineers in a high-scoring affair.

Prediction record: 6-4.

UCF may have found its footing with quarterback Dylan Rizk – the Knights’ fourth starting QB this season. Rizk has made the last two starts for a team looking to remain bowl eligible. The freshman threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start and nearly pulled off the upset at Arizona State in game two. He’s been efficient in his passes, completing 74.6% of his passes.

The Knights have leaned on an effective rushing attack, ranking third nationally, and lead all Power Four programs, averaging 262.8 rushing yards per game.

Leading the UCF ground game is RJ Harvey. The senior has rushed for 1,328, ranking third nationally, with 19 touchdowns and was named a Doak Walker Award semifinalist for the second consecutive season.

Statistically, the West Virginia defense has been formidable against the run and is second in the Big 12 in rushing yards allowed per game at 126.8. However, last week against Baylor, the Mountaineers nearly allowed the Bears to reach their season average of 5.7 yards per carry, gaining 5.4 yards per rush. UCF is second in the country in runs of 10 yards or more with 86.

West Virginia was unable to keep pace with a surging Baylor offense last week at home and there is no indication they will be able slow the Knights down Saturday. The Mountaineers had an opportunity for a game turning interception against Baylor but what has occurred often with this unit, it was dropped. The defense will have to make plays for this team to win and they did it two weeks ago to steal a win in Cincinnati.

I’m reluctant to pick West Virginia for a multitude of reasons but what has been preached by the coaching staff since the arrival of Neal Brown, the lack of consistency in all three phases of the game, sums it up.

I’m going to go out on a shaky limb this week and pick the Mountaineers. It’s quarterback Garrett Greene’s last home game of his Mountaineer career and I think he will motivate and will this team to a win while the defense will dial up more pressure against a freshman quarterback and force mistakes, but it will not be easy.

West Virginia finds a way to win 27-24.

Prediction record: 6-4.

West Virginia

Who Steps Up for West Virginia at Receiver with Traylon Ray Done for the Year?

Published

21 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Who Steps Up for West Virginia at Receiver with Traylon Ray Done for the Year?

West Virginia’s passing game hasn’t struck fear into the hearts of its opponents all year long, but the Mountaineers lost one of their biggest receiving threats, Traylon Ray, last week in the loss to Baylor.

A Baylor defensive back landed on Ray’s leg on a deep ball in the second half, causing the sophomore receiver to be carted off the field. Over the weekend, Ray underwent a successful surgery and will be out for the remainder of the season.

Prior to the injury, Ray hauled in 28 receptions for 426 yards and four touchdowns on the season, giving him an average of 15.2 yards per catch. He scored three of his four touchdowns throughout his final four games played and made some big catches deep down the field. He leads all Mountaineer receivers in touchdowns, is second in receiving yards, and third in receptions.

So, how do the Mountaineers go about replacing Ray’s production for the final two games of the season?

“I think similar to when Hudson (Clement) was out. We take a team approach,” head coach Neal Brown answered. “Now, we’re going to miss him. I think that by the time Traylon’s career is done here, he’s going to be a really high-level player, and I really think the NFL is in his future. This is a minor setback. He’ll make the full recovery. It looked bad, but he’s going to make the full recovery, and he’s in good spirits. We’ll miss him.

“But we also got some guys that we can plug and play,” he continued. “Preston (Fox) will take a bigger role. Jarel Williams will play a little bit more on offense. Justin Robinson needs to play more like he did against Cincinnati, not like he did against Baylor. And I believe he will. It will be a committee approach.”

DayDay Farmer is another one who will likely see more action, although he has been splitting reps in the slot with Rodney Gallagher III for the last couple of weeks. While Farmer, Robinson, Fox, Williams, and others may become a little more involved, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll see a significant increase in targets.

Instead, look for tight end Kole Taylor to see a healthy dose of targets in these final two games. Over the last two weeks, Taylor has combined for ten receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown. He’ll likely play a big role in the season finale at Texas Tech, but with cruddy weather in the forecast for Saturday, Ray’s absence shouldn’t impact the Mountaineers too much against UCF.

West Virginia and UCF will kick it off at 3:30 p.m. EST. The action can be streamed live on ESPNU.