MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — No injuries were reported in a more than five hour standoff at the Cranston & Edwards Law office in Morgantown Monday.
Jeremy Harp came to the office Monday to provide a statement regarding his brother Christopher’s April2024 conviction for multiple counts of receiving child pornography. Once Harp provided that statement he produced a pistol and allegedly threatened himself. The workers fled the building on Dorsey Avenue in what would become a more than five hour standoff with police.
Cranston & Edwards released a statement Tuesday morning that said in part,” Christopher Harp steadfastly maintained his innocence. During the trial, it was our contention that Christopher Harp was not the individual who received and possessed the pornography; but it was, in fact, his brother, who committed this heinous crime. Unfortunately, Christopher Harp was convicted.”
The office of U.S. Attorney Bill Ihlenfeld prosecuted the case and released the following statement Tuesday afternoon:
“I am grateful that no one was harmed during yesterday’s standoff in Morgantown. The efforts of law enforcement to de-escalate the situation and ensure the safety of all involved are to be commended.
“It is unfortunate that Christopher Harp continues to blame someone else for the crimes he himself committed. Christopher’s attempt to implicate his brother during trial was flatly rejected by the judge and the jury, as the evidence established beyond a reasonable doubt that Christopher Harp regularly downloaded, possessed, and viewed child pornography. To once again point the finger at his brother, someone who clearly is struggling with his mental health, is disappointing, selfish, and shows that Christopher has not accepted responsibility for his crimes. Once the details of yesterday’s purported confession are fully disclosed, I’m confident that this self-centered strategy of blaming his brother will again be rejected.”