Joshua Scales Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
A Charleston judge issued the prison term following a plea of guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Criminal Justice
Joshua Scales was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for the January 2025 shooting death of 34-year-old Ethan Chic-Colbert.
Why it matters
The sentencing concludes a legal process regarding the fatal shooting that occurred on Elizabeth Street in Charleston. The defendant had sought an alternative sentence of home confinement during the hearing.
Joshua Scales, age 35, received a 10-year prison term for the voluntary manslaughter of 34-year-old Ethan Chic-Colbert. The sentencing proceeded according to a plea deal finalized in the Kanawha County jurisdiction.
The players
Joshua Scales
He is a 35-year-old man who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Ethan Chic-Colbert.
Ethan Chic-Colbert
He was a 34-year-old man who died in a 2025 shooting and was previously convicted in a 2012 child death case.
The details
The judge delivered the 10-year prison sentence after the defense unsuccessfully requested home confinement for the defendant. Ethan Chic-Colbert, who was killed in the January 2025 incident, had previously been convicted in a 2012 child death case.
Timeline
2012: Ethan Chic-Colbert was convicted in a child death case.
January 2025: Ethan Chic-Colbert was fatally shot on Elizabeth Street in Charleston.
September 29, 2026: Joshua Scales was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Legal Context
This case follows standard procedures for voluntary manslaughter sentencing in Kanawha County, where judicial outcomes remain tethered to the specifics of individual plea agreements. The history of the deceased, including his 2012 conviction, provides complex background context often seen in local criminal proceedings.
The resolution of this case brings closure to a violent incident that occurred on a local residential street. Residents of Charleston may note the conclusion of the legal proceedings as the court finalizes the terms of the defendant's incarceration.
The takeaway
The sentencing demonstrates how plea agreements directly dictate the final duration of incarceration in manslaughter cases. It serves as a reminder of the lasting impact historical legal records can have on the public perception of criminal investigations.
Further reading
For more information on local legal proceedings, visit the Criminal Justice section.
