Santa Barbara
MARTINSBURG – A Martinsburg lawyer was arraigned Oct. 19 on six counts based on allegations that he held about 40 people at gunpoint.
Michael Shawn Santa Barbara was accused of holding a group of people at a party at gunpoint. He was charged with five counts of brandishing a deadly weapon and one count of battery.
Santa Barbara was later released on a $3,000 personal recognizance bond. He is also accused of striking a woman in the face and told police he arrived at the boat dock armed and ordered the partygoers underneath the pavilion because he was surrounded and was afraid he might be jumped, according to a report by The Martinsburg Journal.
Santa Barbara allegedly told police he went to the party because people in the neighborhood were upset about the noise. He claimed that he went to the boat dock to get everyone to leave.
If convicted, Santa Barbara faces a $50 to $100 fine and/or 90 days to one year in jail on each of the five counts of brandishing a weapon. He also faces a fine of up to $500 and/or up to one year in jail if convicted of battery.