Preliminary Hearing in Incident Involving Sheriff Cline’s Step-Daughter as Victim ‘Tentatively’ Set for November 15

The preliminary hearing from which at this point it seems likely to move toward trial on a trio of criminal charges against Marqwan Haley, 25, related to an alleged physical encounter and restraint of Kalyn Cline, 24, on October 28, 2023, was set for November 15, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. – tentatively.

We say “tentatively” because Warren County Circuit Court Judge William Sharp told involved counsel, Special Prosecutor Abigail Cromer and defense attorney Louis Campola, to try and work out of court on their home legal ground of Shenandoah County with appointed out-of-county Judge Kevin C. Black to see if there might be a more suitable date for all concerned to move the process forward. Though it appeared his arrival was anticipated by initially afternoon-docket presiding Judge Daryl Funk, who has recused himself from the case, Judge Black was absent from the Friday, September 27 hearing in Warren County Circuit Court.

The special appointments of outside prosecuting counsel and judge, as well as investigating law enforcement agency, was necessitated by the fact that the alleged victim in the case is the step-daughter of Warren County Sheriff Crystal Cline through her marriage to George Cline. In fact, due to some confusion in the Shenandoah County Commonwealth Attorneys Office that led to the special prosecutors missing several scheduled hearing dates, the charges initially filed at the General District Court level were dropped “without prejudice” to prevent them from being dismissed on a procedural motion by the defense. The dropping of the charges “without prejudice” allowed them to be refiled by Direct Indictment of a Warren County Grand Jury to Circuit Court, which occurred on August 12, and is where the case at this point is proceeding from.

While the Warren County Courthouse, Circuit Courtroom ‘A’ to be precise, was the scene of the most recent hearing on charges related to a personal confrontation between a now estranged local couple, the attorneys and judge have been appointed from out of county due to one involved party’s relationship to a local law enforcement official. – Royal Examiner File Photo

Haley, whose remains free on bond that was adjusted as requested as part of Friday’s agenda by Judge Sharp, faces three charges: Misdemeanor Assault and Battery, and two felonies, Abduction by Force or Intimidation and Destruction of Property from damage to her car, which the couple was in at the time of the incident. Car repair costs have been estimate at $3,223.02.

Marqwan Haley was present in court Friday afternoon, with a contingent of what appeared to be family and friends. Kalyn Cline was not present, as her presence wasn’t required for the procedural hearing as scheduled.

The Criminal Complaint attached to the Warrants — it appears the incident investigation has been turned over to the Virginia State Police, also due to the victim’s relationship to the Warren County Sheriff — may give a hint at the impetus for the confrontation. That hint is that at the time of the incident the defendant was described by the investigator as the victim’s “boyfriend”.

The investigator’s report based on an interview with victim Kalyn Cline indicates that she was both verbally and physically assaulted by Haley. “This resulted in bruising to Cline’s arm and a scratch on her back … Cline reported this incident on 10/29/23 (the day after it occurred) at approximately 19:08 hours – 7:08 p.m. The bruises, scratch, and damages were documented and match Cline’s story,” Trooper N. N. Hobbs wrote in his report. The referenced “damages” were to Cline’s car, which she claimed Haley also took his aggressions out on.

“Haley also punched Cline’s windshield, damaged her air vent, and poured a ‘tall boy’ over her and her car’s interior. During this incident, Haley also would not let Cline leave the car by pulling her back in by her pants/hair, as well as, grabbing her when she tried to get away and putting her back in the car.”

Trooper Hobbs also wrote that when he presented the incident report/EPO to Haley “I observed injuries to his hand from punching the windshield.”

I guess we’ll have to wait until the projected trial to get defendant Haley’s version of events and explanation of that damaged hand. Unless the defendant and his counsel decide to opt for an acceptable plea agreement. However, we were told the defense had rejected one plea agreement offer already.