Prosecutor: Alemar was ‘highly intoxicated’ when taken into custody

August 23, 2012

MARTINSBURG - A man arrested Monday on terrorism charges after he was seen running in the area of two Martinsburg schools wearing a ballistic vest and carrying a training rifle was "highly intoxicated" when he was taken into custody, officials said Wednesday.

Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely also explained why the decision was made to charge 23-year-old William Everett Alemar, of South Raleigh Street, with committing a terrorist act and wearing body armor while committing a felony offense.

"First of all, it is the correct charge. We are aware of it and it is the correct charge under the circumstances. That is not to say that there are not other issues going on with this young man. We are coordinating that between multiple agencies at this point. He was highly intoxicated at the time in addition to this and that gives everybody great cause for concern, especially around children," Games-Neely said.

Article Photos

William Everett Alemar

Alemar is scheduled to appear Aug. 29 in Berkeley County Magistrate Court for a preliminary hearing in the case. Alemar is a member Virginia National Guard's Company B, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and was previously deployed to Iraq in 2011.

He told police he was out jogging with his gear on.