Hoyle denied bond, given court-appointed attorney in video hearing

After cancelled court appearances on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, the initial hearing of the man accused of killing his stepfather on Grand Avenue in Front Royal on Monday (March 27) was conducted by remote video at 11 a.m. Wednesday (March 29).

David Glynn Hoyle, Jr.

David Glynn Hoyle, Jr., 32, spoke in a shaky, halting and polite voice when questioned by Judge William Sharpe.  Hoyle also rocked back and forth throughout the brief hearing and was wearing the same type of strap-on vest he was pictured wearing in his RSW Jail mug shot.

Hoyle was scheduled to appear in person for hearings on Tuesday and earlier Wednesday morning at the Warren County Courthouse.  However, he was not transported from RSW Jail both days, leading to the video hearing later Wednesday morning.

While RSW Jail officials cannot comment on Hoyle’s status due to HIPPA privacy regulations; that vest resembling a strap-on flak jacket may indicate that Hoyle is on a suicide watch at the jail, explaining the failure to transport him two days in a row.

Hoyle is accused of shooting his 58-year-old stepfather, Warren Howard Ramsey, multiple times in the Grand Avenue home they shared with what police described as “other family members”.  Front Royal Police responded to a report of a shooting at 208 Grand Avenue at 10:49 p.m. Monday evening, March 27.  Hoyle was present when police arrived, and Ramsey was pronounced dead at the scene.

208 Grand Avenue site of fatal March 27 shooting.

According to the criminal complaint, an unidentified eyewitness at the scene told police that, “Ramsey was seated on a couch when Hoyle walked into the living room.  No words were exchanged and then Hoyle pointed a handgun at Ramsey and fired multiple shots into Ramsey.”

The criminal complaint states that “the handgun was recovered”, that Hoyle was “taken into custody without incident”; and that he later “confessed to shooting his stepfather” during an interview with FRPD Detective L.J. Waller.

Hoyle has been charged with First Degree Murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a murder attempt.  Conviction on the murder charge carries a 20 years to life in prison sentencing range; the firearms charge has a minimum-mandatory of three years in prison.

During Wednesday’s video hearing in Warren County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Sharpe questioned Hoyle on his eligibility for a court-appointed attorney.

Asked if he was employed, Hoyle replied, “No sir.”

“Do you have any income?” Judge Sharpe asked.

“I had the plow job the week beforehand,” Hoyle said.

Asked what his income from odd jobs was, Hoyle told the court, “Three-hundred something.”  He also told the court, “I don’t have a bank account.”

Responding to another question, Hoyle told the court he owned a 1997 Ford Escort.

Judge Sharpe informed Hoyle he qualified for a court-appointed attorney, and that one from the Public Defenders Office would be appointed as his counsel.

The judge then told Hoyle that due to the nature of the case there was a “presumption against bond” and he would remain incarcerated.  He also said that he could discuss the potential of contesting that presumption against bond with his attorney.

Sharpe set a second hearing date of Wednesday, April 4, at 10 a.m.