LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – Three Greenbrier County siblings have been sentenced to home confinement after being found guilty of attacking an 87-year-old Rupert woman after she ran over their dog.
Tanya Johnson, James Highlander and Travis Highlander were found guilty of malicious wounding and conspiracy to commit unlawful assault for the Sept. 1, 2022, attack. They were sentenced on March 31, 2023.
All three were given the option to serve their sentences on home confinement.
Johnson was sentenced to 2-10 years on the malicious wounding charge and 1-5 years for conspiracy to commit unlawful assault.
Travis Highlander was sentenced to 1-5 years for malicious wounding and 1-5 years on the conspiracy charge. He also must complete a substance abuse treatment program before being eligible for parole.
James Highlander was sentenced to 1-5 years for malicious wounding and 1-5 years on the conspiracy charge.
According to the victim’s statement, she was driving home on Zopp Road where there were people in the road along with an open car door sticking out into the road. She said she swerved to avoid them and did not realize she hit the family’s dog.
Johnson and Travis and James Highlander then followed her home and assaulted her. She stated that it happened so fast, she didn’t know who had attacked her.
The victim suffered a brain bleed and bruising and was transported to Charleston Area Medical Center after the attack.
The case was handled by Greenbrier County Prosecuting Attorney Patrick Via and investigated by the West Virginia State Police.
