MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Last Friday in Berkeley County Magistrate Court, Donald Russ, the now former caretaker for the Green Hill Historic Cemetery in Martinsburg was sentenced to 80 hours of community service for violating the terms of a plea agreement he had reached in the fall.
That plea after Russ had pleaded no contest to a count of unlawful removal, injury, or destruction of property in September stemming from an incident earlier in the year at a historic African American cemetery next to Green Hill Cemetery.
Magistrate Darrell Shull told Russ during Friday’s hearing that he wouldn’t get a third chance if he violated the terms of the plea agreement which could mean jail time.
Trustees for the Green Hill Historic African American Cemetery say the damage cited was one of a series of trespassing or destruction of property complaints they’ve had against Russ.
Gloria Carter, president of the African American Cemetery trustees alleges Russ has harassed members of the group dating back to 2017.
You can hear that full interview on our Panhandle News Network Spotify.
Carter and fellow trustee Kim Sencindiver were guests on Tuesday’s Panhandle Live.
