FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Shawn Turak, Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney releases the following statement:
Richard McCardle CONVICTED of Child Abuse by a Person in Position of Trust
On August 24, 2026, former Wheeling Middle School Principal Richard McCardle appeared in the Magistrate Court of Ohio County and entered a plea of “No Contest” to the crime of Child Abuse by a Person in Position of Trust.
At a hearing in the Ohio County Magistrate Court on August 24, 2026, McCardle was convicted of Child Abuse Creating Risk of Serious Bodily Injury by a Person in Position of Trust and was sentenced to ninety (90) days in jail, suspended for 12 months of probation and fined one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).
The case emanated from an incident involving a then 8th grade student who was in the main office meeting with a teacher over a dress code violation when McCardle intervened and ordered the victim to in school suspension. After demonstrating compliance with the dress code issue, the child attempted to go to in school suspension when McCardle grabbed the child around his neck, slammed him to the ground and proceeded to pin him to the floor for a brief duration.
After an investigation, Wheeling Police Department Major Josh Sanders charged McCardle with felony child abuse by a person in position of trust. In June, at a preliminary hearing, Magistrate William Lemon found probable cause for that crime following a contested evidentiary hearing. The negotiated plea agreement is for the misdemeanor crime of Child Abuse by a Person in Position of Trust.
Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney Shawn Turak stated, “The distinction between what he was initially charged and the end conviction reflects the fact that the victim thankfully received non-life threatening injuries. Misdemeanor child abuse by a person in position of trust involves risk of serious bodily injury instead of actual serious bodily injury. Fortunately, the victim in this case did not receive serious bodily injuries as defined in West Virginia Code. As such, we determined that the appropriate conviction is that to which McCardle has plead No Contest- the misdemeanor crime.”
This conviction will permanently bar McCardle from working in a public school again. City of Wheeling Police Chief, Shawn Schwertfeger, stated, ““The Wheeling Police Department remains committed to thoroughly investigating crimes, particularly ones in which the victims are more vulnerable, such as this case. We additionally remain committed to our partnerships in the investigation and prosecution of all crimes and to the criminal justice process. Justice for victims is of paramount importance and we believe this has been accomplished in this case.”
Turak continued, “My three objectives in this case were to ensure the victim’s well-being; to hold McCardle accountable; and to protect future students. This resolution achieves these three goals. I worked closely with the victim’s mother, who is in agreement with this result, as well as the City of Wheeling Police Department. I have met the victim, spoken with him – he is doing well and that’s important. By holding McCardle responsible for his actions achieves accountability, which is so very important to me as the Prosecuting Attorney for this County. And, third, the conviction bans McCardle from working in a public school setting for life. That secures the well being of all future students.”
“Unless he violates probation, McCardle will not be incarcerated. I believe keeping him from working in the public school system is the best way to ensure he doesn’t violate his probation,” Turak continued. “The situation could have been so very much worse, and the fact that the victim is doing really well and appears to have fully recovered tells me that this is the right result. I am confident that his mom would agree. I want to express my appreciation to her for her continuous cooperation, as well as praise the hard work of the Wheeling Police Department for a very thorough investigation.”
