Abdeahmed Gahlan Sentenced

A sentencing hearing was held in the Circuit Court of Barbour County on November 7, 2024 before the Honorable Shawn D. Nines. Andrew Lynn Phillips, Prosecuting Attorney, appeared on behalf of the State. The defendant, Abdeahmed Gahlan, appeared in person and by his counsel, Tom Dyer.

The defendant had previously entered pleas of guilty to the offenses of Sexual Assault in the Third Degree, a violation of West Virginia § 61-8B-5, Soliciting a Minor by Computer, a violation of West Virginia § 61-3c-14b(a), Soliciting a Minor by Computer and Traveling to Engage the Minor in Prohibited Sexual Activity, a violation of West Virginia § 61-3C-14b(a)(b), Violation of a Domestic Violence Protective Order, a violation of West Virginia § 48-27-903(a)(1)(B), and Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, a violation of West Virginia § 17C-5-2(f). The Court ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed prior to sentencing.

The defendant was sentenced to a term of not less than one nor more than five years in the West Virginia Penitentiary for the offense of Sexual Assault in the Third Degree to a term of not less than two nor more than 10 years; in the West Virginia Penitentiary for the offense of Soliciting a Minor Via Computer to a period of one year; in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail for the offense of Violation of a Domestic Violence Protective Order; and to a period of six months in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail for the offense of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.

As to the offense of Soliciting a Minor Via Computer and Traveling to Engage the Minor in Prohibited Sexual Activity, the defendant was sentenced to a determinate sentence of 20 years.

All sentences were to be served consecutively to each other. In addition, the Defendant has previously been ordered to register as a sexual offender for the remainder of his lifetime. The defendant was ordered to be subject to 25 years of Sexual Offender Extended Supervision after completion of his prison sentence.