Inmate Files Civil Suit Against Huttonsville Correctional Center Superintendent

A civil lawsuit filed in McDowell County's circuit court names Shelby Searls, superintendent of Huttonsville Correctional Center, as the defendant in a case brought by inmate Aron Freeland.

The case, docketed as CC-27-2026-C-24 in the West Virginia Circuit Court for McDowell County, was filed March 19, 2026, and is classified as "civil - other," a broad designation that offers no detail on the specific allegations or relief Freeland is seeking. The complaint itself has not been made public through available court records, and no specific causes of action or damages are detailed in the docket filing.

Defending Searls are attorneys from the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, with Jonathan Mitchell Calhoun listed by name alongside at least one additional unnamed counsel. The involvement of the Monongalia County prosecutor's office suggests Searls is being represented in an official capacity as superintendent, though the filing does not specify this explicitly.

No attorney is listed for Freeland on the docket.

Huttonsville Correctional Center is a medium-security state prison located in Randolph County, well outside McDowell County's borders, making the McDowell Circuit Court filing a notable procedural detail. The full picture of what Freeland alleges, what remedies he seeks, and whether any hearings have been scheduled remains unavailable until the complaint is obtained from the McDowell County Circuit Court clerk.