After years of delays, Lawrence “Grasshopper” Puffenbarger’s trial started in Hampshire County Circuit Court on Monday, February 23.

The delays resulted mainly from scheduling confl icts, pretrial legal motions and personnel changes, including the appointment of a new prosecutor.

The trial was moved from Pendleton County to Hampshire County to ensure fairness, given local publicity and concerns about impartial jurors.

Day One of Trial

Puffenbarger was being charged with three counts of First Degree Sexual Abuse. West Virginia State Code §61- 8B-7 defi first-degree sexual abuse as subjecting another person to sexual contact without their consent, when the victim is younger than twelve years old, or when the defendant is in a position of trust, authority, or supervision over a child. This charge refl ects the seriousness of the alleged offenses and the legal standards involved.