All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Buckhannon man who allegedly cut his home confinement monitor arrested for felony escape

Beam

BUCKHANNON – An Upshur County man was arrested after he allegedly tampered with this home confinement monitoring device.

Robert Carl Beam Jr., also known as RJ, 27, of Buckhannon, was arrested on Friday for escape from custody, a felony. He is now housed in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $150,000 cash-only bond set by Upshur County Magistrate Alan Suder.

The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office first issued a press release Friday about the incident, which allegedly occurred late Thursday night. The release advised that Beam had cut the strap on his Home Confinement electronic monitoring device and that, due to prior convictions, he could be armed and dangerous.

“Due to [Beam’s] previous charges of wanton endangerment involving a firearm, multiple fleeing with reckless indifference in a vehicle, and multiple escapes from custody, RJ is considered to be possibly armed and dangerous,” the release stated. “RJ poses an extreme danger to public safety due to reckless driving while fleeing from law enforcement.”

According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by Upshur County Sheriff’s Deputy Cpl. T.R. Collins, the incident began at approximately 11:35 p.m. on March 14. At that time, Home Confinement Supervisor D. Long received a tampering alert from the electronic monitoring device that was issued to and being worn by Beam.

At approximately 6:15 a.m. on March 15, Long and Collins went to a residence at 3 1/2 Sedgwick Street in Buckhannon in an attempt to find Beam. They successfully located Beam’s electronic monitoring device and its charger on the porch of the residence, according to the complaint.

“The electronic monitoring device’s strap was cut, which confirms the tampering alert we received,” Collins wrote in the report. “Beam was on bond for five counts of [being a] prohibited person in possession of a firearm, one count of possession of a stolen vehicle, and one count of possession of bald head eagle parts.”

Beam was recaptured on Friday, March 15.

The potential penalty for a conviction of escape from custody is confinement in a correctional facility for not more than five years.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

B-U ladies to host second annual Bonnie the Buccaneer Beatdown Saturday

Top-ranked, defending state champion Buckhannon-Upshur will host the second annual Bonnie the Buccaneer Beatdown Saturday, featuring 26 teams and many of the state’s top female wrestlers despite the host’s seven-wrestler roster.

Centers Against Violence representatives discuss impact of human trafficking, stalking in Upshur County

Centers Against Violence urged Upshur County leaders to take stalking and human trafficking seriously as the commission proclaimed Stalking Prevention Month and Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Connie Miller Burk

Connie Miller Burk, 72, of Buckhannon, a former WV Wesleyan and Union Drilling employee, loving mother of twin sons Shawn and Shane Miller, and devoted churchgoer, died January 20, 2026, with services Jan. 27.

This week’s Hank Ellis All-Stars: Madelyn Tucker and Jerin Westfall

The latest Hank Ellis All-Stars are Lady Buc sophomore Madelyn Tucker and Buccaneer senior Jerin Westfall. Tucker powered B-U to a perfect 2-0 week, while Westfall tallied his 1,000th career point.

Winter storm update: Heavy snow, ice expected to cause ‘widespread and significant impacts’ this weekend

Upshur County is under a winter storm watch as heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain threaten major travel and infrastructure impacts from Saturday through Monday.

School bus crashes on Route 20 after hitting black ice; one child taken to hospital

A school bus carrying 25 students slid on black ice on Route 20 Wednesday morning and went off the road, according to Upshur County Sheriff Mike Coffman. All students were checked at the scene, and one child was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital with minor injuries.

B-U swim teams finish up regular season

Buckhannon-Upshur’s girls won six events (four individual, two relays) and the boys one on Senior Night, then the girls placed fifth and boys sixth at a nine-team/ seven-team make-up before the Big 10 championships.

Basketball ‘Cats fall on the road to Frostburg State, 105-83

Frostburg State defeated West Virginia Wesleyan 105–83 as Frostburg’s second-half surge and efficient shooting overcame Wesleyan’s 47.8 percent offense and 21 points from Isaiah Baker.

Wesleyan women down Frostburg State, 87-76

West Virginia Wesleyan defeated Frostburg State 87-76, led by Kilah Dandridge’s season-high 25 and strong shooting and balance from Emma Witt and Sydney Baird, improving to 9-4 overall and 7-3 in MEC play.