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Charges Of Witness Tampering Against Lawyer Dropped

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A judge has dismissed charges against a Wheeling lawyer and a private investigator in a witness tampering case.

According to media outlets, Harrison County Circuit Judge John Lewis Marks Jr. granted a motion by prosecutors to drop the case after two key witnesses died from apparent heroin overdoses.

Attorney Paul J. Harris and Barbour County private investigator Franklin D. Streets Jr. were accused of conspiring to interfere with a witness in a criminal case against a former Shinnston police officer.

Harris' attorney, Robert McCoid, said after Wednesday's dismissal that his client is pleased to have the case behind him. McCoid said Harris regrets that the dismissal was caused by the deaths, but also regrets that he was not able to be vindicated on the merits of the case at trial.