State v. Beck

Miller, Justice:

Harry Edgar Beck was convicted in the Circuit Court of Brooke County of sexual assault in the first degree. Upon his conviction, the State proceeded with a recidivist hearing, resulting in the imposition of a mandatory life sentence under W. Va. Code, 61-11-18.

The appellant challenges both the underlying conviction and the recidivist sentence, on the basis of (1) the denial of his motion for a change of venue; (2) the refusal to quash the indictment which contained non-statutory language; (3) the impaneling of three jurors who were challenged for cause; (4) a ruling that a…