Shawn Turak, Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney releases the following statement:
On August 11, 2025, Joseph William Wood, 39, of Salem, West Virginia, was sentenced to not less than two (2) nor more than fifteen (15) years in the custody of the West Virginia Department of Corrections as a result of his conviction for Breaking and Entering and Reckless Fleeing in a Vehicle.
Bethlehem Officers on routine patrol discovered a break-in of the Bethlehem Marathon gas station during the early morning hours on September 25, 2024. Tools in the area, walkie-talkies, and gloves were recovered. The break-in was to the outside bathroom, which was locked when the business closed. Upon further investigation, officers found additional tools in the bathroom in what appeared to be efforts to further tunnel into the inside of the store. Arrest warrants were eventually sought for Joseph Wood and Mykhia Bennett.
Three days later, Bethlehem Police attempted to arrest Wood for the Breaking and Entering warrant, when Wood took off in a vehicle, fleeing police west on Interstate 470 into Ohio. When the pursuit finally ended, Wood was taken into custody. Bennett was with Wood when officers attempted to arrest him, but she got out of the vehicle immediately before Wood took off. Bennett was convicted of Conspiracy and is serving a 1 to 5 sentence on house arrest.
Following indictment by the May 2025 Ohio County Grand Jury, Wood entered a guilty plea to the Breaking and Entering and Reckless Fleeing charges earlier this summer.
On August 11, 2025, Judge Michael Olejasz sentenced Wood to the maximum sentence on each charge and ordered the sentences to run consecutively.
“The Court recognized the very serious nature of the crimes Wood committed and the danger he placed the community in, particularly during the pursuit which featured excessive speeds of over 100 miles an hour and overall really reckless driving. Wood’s previous criminal history also favored against any leniency,” noted Prosecuting Attorney Shawn R. Turak.
“The sentence is consistent with our important goal to continue to protect not only Ohio County but the entire Ohio Valley community.”
