Timothy Probert Case Timeline:

By Samantha Perry
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
August 12, 2016

http://www.bdtonline.com/news/timothy-probert-case-timeline/article_167b92d8-6100-11e6-9d10-37a1a519e6ee.html

Timothy Probert, a former youth volunteer at Westminster Presbyterian Church and mentor with the Working to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect program, is arrested on 38 counts of child sexual abuse related charges.

• December 18, 2013: A Bluefield Daily Telegraph investigation reveals Probert was accused of similar crimes in 1999.

• February 4, 2014: Graphic testimony is recounted during Probert’s preliminary hearing by Sgt. M.D. Clemons, with the West Virginia State Police Crimes Against Children Unit. Probable cause is found, and the case is bound over to the grand jury.

• March 2014: Probert is placed on house arrest after a man testifies at a hearing that he was propositioned by Probert when he went to his Bluefield home seeking to do yard work or other labor.

• February 10, 2015: Probert is indicted on 50 charges related to alleged sexual abuse of children. The new charges stem from another alleged victim coming forward, and additional charges added in other cases.

• February 18, 2015: Probert case assigned to a senior status judge after Mercer County Circuit Court judges Omar Aboulhosn, Derek Swope and William “Bill” Saddler recuse themselves from the case, citing a conflict of interest.

• October 2015: A pretrial hearing on a defense motion to dismiss the case based on an alleged violation of priest penitent privilege rescheduled to December.

• December 2015: Pre-trial hearing on defense motion that Pastor Jonathan Rockness violated priest-penitent privilege.

• February 17, 2016: Order filed denying motion of priest-penitent privilege violation.

• April 18, 2016: Probert, 57, pleads guilty to 37 charges related to the sexual abuse of teen boys. He faces 171 to 489 years in prison.

• April 22, 2016: Fayette County Judge Charles Vickers declines to revoke the bond of Probert during a bond revocation hearing.

• Mid-May 2016: Sentencing hearing for Probert rescheduled from June 23 to Aug. 12.

• August 12, 2016: Probert sentenced to 15 to 35 years by Judge Vickers. Probert was also given credit for time served while on home confinement. He will be eligible for parole in 12 years.