Huntington , Cabell County , West Virginia

Instead of wiping the slate clean for the new year in 2012, William Fykes racked up charges that included kidnapping, robbery, and malicious wounding for allegedly holding three men hostage at Stonewall bar.

Fykes' trial for those charges began Tuesday in Huntington in front of circuit judge Paul Farrell.

Assistant Cabell County prosecutor Lauren Plymale gave opening statements for the state. She said, "That hope and excitement of a new year was shattered by this defendant, William Fykes."

Plymale laid out the case for the state in Cabell County court Tuesday. She said their evidence would prove Fykes robbed three employees at gunpoint in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2012. Fykes allegedly beat two of those men and left with more than $20,000. Police caught him after a short foot chase.

Some of the incident was caught on tape, but the defense claims, "it's not what it looks like."

Defense attorney Jason Goad said, "This whole thing was staged and everybody involved was in on it."

Goad said they'll try to prove Fykes knew the men and was commissioned to rob the place.

The state called its first witnesses after opening arguments, including an employee who walked in on the robbery and called police and a police officer who responded to the scene that night.

The trial will continue Wednesday.

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