Branscome hearing delayed by lawyer’s hospital stop

A man police say shot a Virginia State trooper and ran from them for over a week was due in court Friday morning.

But a trip to the hospital for one of Steven Branscome’s attorneys forced the court to postpone the hearing in Mercer County West Virginia.

Branscome faces three felony charges in West Virginia, malicious wounding of a police officer, wanton endangerment defined as recklessly acting in a way that may harm or kill others and burglary.

Despite the delay, prosecutors are confident the case will go before a grand jury.  According to Virginia State Police, Branscome faces a laundry list of charges.  They include breaking and entering, stealing firearms and vehicles in Wythe, Floyd, and Pulaski counties, along with making threats to kill someone he had a previous relationship with.

After the shooting State Police charged Branscome with felony elude and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Branscome also faces two more charges in North Carolina after police say he broke into a church and stole a church van.

Branscome is currently being held in the Southern Regional jail in West Virginia, on a $50,000 cash only bond.