PLEA AGREEMENT POSSIBLE IN RUSH MURDER CASE

(05/19/2007)
A Calhoun man who has been granted a re-trial by the WV Supreme Court agreed to initial steps of a plea agreement yesterday during a status hearing in Jackson County.

Ronnie Rush had been sentenced to prison in the double murders of Ward Groves and Mary Hicks, both shot to death at close range at their residence along US 33/119 near Sand Ridge in 2003.

"The plea agreement requires Rush to be cooperative with the State," said Calhoun prosecutor Matt Minney, indicating he must "turn State's evidence."

"He will be required to be forthright about what happened," said Minney.

The agreement still requires him to plead to at least two felonies.

Rush was represented by Teresa Monk before Judge Thomas Evans III. Monk was Rush's public defender whom appealed his case to the high court.

He will return to court in Jackson County on June 21st.