ELKINS, WV— Richard Allan “Opie” Manuel, 52, has pleaded guilty to charges that he threatened both Mayor Jerry Marco and the Chief of Police of Elkins, West Virginia when he claimed that he would “shoot up” the Tygart Valley Regional Jail during a verbal confrontation with Elkins City Police Chief Travis Bennett in February.
He’s now facing one year in jail.
The proceedings against Manuel before Randolph County Magistrate Tracy Harper revealed that in February, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Senior Deputy T.J. Knotts took a complaint from Chief Bennett that Manuel was “making threats to kill him, Mayor Jerry Marco, and shoot up Tygart Valley Regional Jail.”
An employee at the County Jail told Knotts that Manuel allegedly intended to purchase a firearm upon his release following a stint in rehab, according to The Inter-Mountain.
“He then stated he had a list of people he was going to ‘take care of,'” Knotts wrote in the complaint obtained by the outlet.
“He specifically mentioned the Chief of Police, whom he said took him on the railroad tracks and beat the s*** out of him before he brought him here. He also mentioned the Mayor of Elkins and (another man) whom he said came to his place where he was living and demanded he be arrested.”
He reportedly then “turned his hand over and made the shape of a gun and stated, ‘That’s the smell of death,'” the complaint reads.
He also allegedly said, “If you think I busted up the jail before, just wait until I shoot it up,” according to the outlet.
Mayor Marco wrote in a statement, “Due to these threats and the fact that I am in the public with my wife on a regular basis, I am seriously concerned for both of us, the safety and well-being of me and my wife. I feel these are terroristic threats against an elected official.”
Following a competency evaluation in May, Randolph County Circuit Court Judge David Wilmoth found Manuel to be proven “competent and criminally responsible” for his actions.
Manuel, represented by attorney Gregory Tingler, accepted a plea agreement reducing the felony charge of threats of terrorist acts he was indicted on to two misdemeanor counts of obstructing law enforcement, probation, parole, court security, and corrections officers with threats of harm.
He stands to serve one year in county jail and pay a $100 fine.
The one-year sentence for the first misdemeanor was offset by credit for all time served from a separate felony charge he was serving before his arrest.
Manuel had served time for a previous felony in 2023 when he was convicted of felony destruction of property for allegedly throwing a rock through the front glass doors of the very same jail.
He’s now facing one year in jail.
The proceedings against Manuel before Randolph County Magistrate Tracy Harper revealed that in February, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Senior Deputy T.J. Knotts took a complaint from Chief Bennett that Manuel was “making threats to kill him, Mayor Jerry Marco, and shoot up Tygart Valley Regional Jail.”
An employee at the County Jail told Knotts that Manuel allegedly intended to purchase a firearm upon his release following a stint in rehab, according to The Inter-Mountain.
“He then stated he had a list of people he was going to ‘take care of,'” Knotts wrote in the complaint obtained by the outlet.
“He specifically mentioned the Chief of Police, whom he said took him on the railroad tracks and beat the s*** out of him before he brought him here. He also mentioned the Mayor of Elkins and (another man) whom he said came to his place where he was living and demanded he be arrested.”
Inmate nicknamed 'Opie' threatens to shoot up jail.
— 0HOUR (@0HOUR1__) June 21, 2025
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Opie looking dopie.
Richard Allan Manuel West Virginia pic.twitter.com/pD31zLelaY
He reportedly then “turned his hand over and made the shape of a gun and stated, ‘That’s the smell of death,'” the complaint reads.
He also allegedly said, “If you think I busted up the jail before, just wait until I shoot it up,” according to the outlet.
Mayor Marco wrote in a statement, “Due to these threats and the fact that I am in the public with my wife on a regular basis, I am seriously concerned for both of us, the safety and well-being of me and my wife. I feel these are terroristic threats against an elected official.”
Following a competency evaluation in May, Randolph County Circuit Court Judge David Wilmoth found Manuel to be proven “competent and criminally responsible” for his actions.
Manuel, represented by attorney Gregory Tingler, accepted a plea agreement reducing the felony charge of threats of terrorist acts he was indicted on to two misdemeanor counts of obstructing law enforcement, probation, parole, court security, and corrections officers with threats of harm.
He stands to serve one year in county jail and pay a $100 fine.
The one-year sentence for the first misdemeanor was offset by credit for all time served from a separate felony charge he was serving before his arrest.
Manuel had served time for a previous felony in 2023 when he was convicted of felony destruction of property for allegedly throwing a rock through the front glass doors of the very same jail.
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