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February 20, 2025 — A West Virginia man with a history of drug trafficking will spend at least 16 years behind bars after a judge handed down a combined sentence for fentanyl possession and drug conspiracy charges.
Clayton E. Prunest, 35, of Oak Hill, was sentenced Tuesday in Fayette County Circuit Court to 3 to 15 years for the first felony count (possession with intent to deliver fentanyl) and a consecutive 5 to 30 years for the second count (drug conspiracy). The Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office confirmed the terms, noting that Prunest must serve 16 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Prunest’s criminal record includes two prior felony drug convictions: a 2014 delivery of heroin and a 2018 delivery of methamphetamine. In June, he pleaded guilty to the latest charges, which stemmed from two separate traffic stops.
On March 1, 2024, police pulled over a vehicle Prunest was riding in for defective equipment. During a search, officers found suspected methamphetamine concealed behind the radio, along with digital scales and empty baggies commonly used for packaging drugs. Laboratory testing confirmed the substance weighed 131.35 grams of methamphetamine.
On November 4, 2024, an officer stopped Prunest’s car for a moving violation. During the stop, Prunest admitted he did not have a valid driver’s license. Police observed drug paraphernalia in plain view and conducted a search. They recovered multiple packages of suspected controlled substances and $2,650 in cash.
Lab results confirmed the haul included:
The case underscores the ongoing opioid and stimulant epidemic in West Virginia, which has the highest drug overdose death rate in the nation. According to the CDC, West Virginia recorded 1,135 overdose deaths in 2024, with fentanyl and its analogs involved in 79% of those fatalities. Legal experts note that the consecutive sentencing structure—uncommon for mid-level offenders—reflects a growing judicial push to deter repeat offenders.
“This sentence sends a clear message that drug trafficking in Fayette County will not be tolerated,” said Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney Anthony J. Paul. “The defendant’s prior convictions and the sheer volume of dangerous substances he carried demonstrate a consistent threat to public safety.”
Prunest will be transferred to the West Virginia Division of Corrections. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, which handled the investigations, praised the collaboration between patrol officers and the prosecutor’s team. The cash and drug paraphernalia will be forfeited.
For the Oak Hill community, the case is another reminder of the persistent challenges posed by the drug trade. Local advocacy groups have called for more treatment programs and housing support for recovering addicts, while law enforcement emphasizes the importance of traffic enforcement as a tool to intercept illegal drugs.
This article is based on court records and statements from the Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. No additional comment from Prunest’s defense attorney was available at the time of publication.
