Three More Participants Graduate from U.S. District Court’s Alternative Treatment Court

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson congratulated three recent graduates of the Alternative Treatment Court (ATC) today. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn oversees the ATC program for the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and presided over today’s graduation ceremony.

The ATC program is a collaborative partnership between the U.S. District Court, the U.S. Probation Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Public Defender’s Office, and various community-based treatment providers and organizations. The ATC program is a pre-plea, pre-sentence alternative to conviction or imprisonment for certain individuals charged with federal crimes. The ATC program provides a blend of treatment that focuses on drug and mental health treatment, and alternative sanctions to effectively address offender behavior, rehabilitation, and education and jobs skills training. The U.S. Probation Office provides oversight and monitoring that are integral to the ATC program’s success.

In a video statement, Thompson commended U.S. Magistrate Judge Aboulhosn, the judges of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and the ATC program’s partners.

“We appreciate the fact that they allow the program not only to exist but to thrive,” Thompson said. “This is something that is done on a volunteer basis. The work and effort they put in makes this program successful and they all deserve recognition today.”

Participants must be individuals whose criminal conduct is believed to be motivated by substance abuse issues, mental health, or other underlying causes that appear to be amenable to treatment through programs available as part of the ATC. Defendants with a history of violent offenses, involved in child exploitation offenses or subject to removal by immigration authorities are among those excluded from participating.

Eligible defendants must participate for at least 12 months, but may be required to participate for up to 24 months.

Today’s graduates are Richard Allen Bowen, 63, of Charleston, Bradley Flowers, 29, of Hurricane, and Joseph Harper, 39, of Beckley. Thompson offered words of encouragement to each graduate.

The three graduates each successfully completed Track Two of the program, which allows them to receive terms of probation. Track One of the program allows for the dismissal of charges against those participants upon their successful completion of the ATC program.

Information about the Alternative Treatment Court program, including the program’s Memorandum of Understanding, is available on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia: https://www.wvsd.uscourts.gov/programs-services/alternative-treatment-court.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:23-cr-4 (Bowen), 3:22-cr-96 (Flowers), and 5:23-cr-15 (Harper).

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