Procious , Clay County , West Virginia

A man who has challenged some of the most powerful West Virginia politicians is arrested for allegedly shooting a man in Clay County.

Eyewitness News reporter Leslie Rubin was the only reporter to speak with him after his arrest.

Hiram Lewis, 41, is no stranger to the spotlight. He's a lawyer, and ran for both U.S. Senate and state attorney general, but now he's facing serious felony charges for shooting a man in the leg. Now he tells Eyewitness News, "it's in God's hands."

"He busted my door down, and I told him several times not to, not to kick the door in. Do not kick the door in. He kicked the door in, came at me, and threatened my life and I had to shoot him in the leg," said Lewis as he was taken to the Clay detachment of the West Virginia State Police.

A trail of blood, farm animals, and old campaign signs are all that's left outside Lewis' home in Procious.

"When we arrived, we saw the victim lying on the porch with a gunshot wound to the leg," said Trooper B.E. Young.

Around 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, troopers responded to a shots fired call on Elk River Road.

Lewis doesn't deny shooting the victim, Stephen Bogart, a man he says he's known for about a week. He claims it was self-defense.

"I was totally within my rights. I was in my home when I shot him after he barged in my residence, and busted the door down," he said.

State police say Bogart says he was a resident at the home, therefore not breaking in.

Lewis is facing charges of malicious wounding and wanton endangerment, even though he says he was invoking the Castle Doctrine, that allows someone to use force when a person fears for their life when someone is breaking in their home.

"I'm completely innocent of any charges they want to file against me," said Lewis.

The republican nearly defeated Darryl McGraw for attorney general in 2004. After that loss, in 2006, he vied for a U.S. Senate seat but lost to Morgantown businessman John Raese, who then lost to Senator Robert C. Byrd.

He's a former army ranger, JAG officer, and veteran of Operation of Iraqi Freedom.

"He was a homeless vet, and I was helping him out a little bit, letting him do some construction work on the camp that I just got, and he just went crazy today," said Lewis.

Bogart was taken to CAMC General where Charleston Police then had to be called in after he became unruly and aggressive.

Lewis is in the Central Regional Jail on a $100,000 cash or surety bond.

State police are asking anyone with information to call the Clay detachment at 304-587-2201.

----------------------

A high profile arrest for a shooting in Clay County.

Hiram Lewis, 41, was arrested at his home on Elkhurst Road in Procious Wednesday afternoon after police say he shot Stephen Bogart in the leg.

Lewis claims Bogart barged into his home and that's when he shot him in the leg.

Lewis is a former GOP treasurer and ran against John Raese U.S. Senate in 2006. He narrowly lost a race for Attorney General against Darrell McGraw.

Bogart is doing okay, but Charleston Police had to be called to CAMC General after he allegedly became unruly.

Stay tuned to Eyewitness News for the latest on this developing story.

How To Contact WCHS-TV8 | Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Terms and Conditions | DMCA Policy | Frequently Asked Questions

Home | Eyewitness News Newsroom | Storm Team Weather | Eyewitness Sports | Schedules

---

Send email to news@wchstv.com for information or comments concerning WCHS-TV Eyewitness News.

Copyright ©2013, WCHS-TV8. Portions are
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.