PROCIOUS, W.Va. -- State Police arrested a former Republican candidate for West Virginia Attorney General and the U.S. Senate after he allegedly shot a Clay County man in the leg Wednesday.

Hiram Carson Lewis IV, 41, of Morgantown, was charged with malicious wounding and wanton endangerment involving a firearm after shooting Steven Bogart at about 1:30 p.m., according to a criminal complaint filed in Clay County Magistrate Court.

State Police were called to Bogart's house at 3150 Elk River Road in Procious for reports of a break-in and shots fired.

Police discovered Bogart lying on the porch bleeding from the leg and Lewis inside the house, the criminal complaint said.

Lewis told troopers he shot Bogart after warning him to stay out of the house, but Bogart attempted to enter anyway, the criminal complaint said.

However, the criminal complaint said Bogart lives at the house and had "possessions present as proof."

Bogart said when he entered his house, Lewis was inside and pointed a handgun at him and shot him, the criminal complaint said.

Paramedics took Bogart to CAMC General Hospital, where he is listed in good condition.

Clay County Magistrate Mitchell King arraigned Lewis Wednesday night. He is currently being held in Central Regional Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bail.

Lewis, a Morgantown attorney, was previously arrested in July 1999 for trespassing at the Arthur B. Hodges Retirement Center, according to reports.

Lewis was visiting his great aunt at about 10:15 p.m., when Hodges employees told him that visiting hours were over and asked his to leave. Lewis refused, saying the law allows family members to stay past visiting hours, according to reports.

Eventually, Hodges employees called the Charleston Police Department. Two officers used pepper spray to forcibly remove Lewis and arrest him.

The charge was later dismissed.

In 2004, Lewis ran for attorney general and came close to unseating Democrat Darrell McGraw during the general election.

In 2006, he also became the first Republican to announce his plans that year to challenge longtime Democratic incumbent Robert C. Byrd for the U.S. Senate. He went on to lose to fellow Republican John Raese in the primary election.

He again ran for attorney general in 2008, but was edged out in the primary election by Republican Dan Greear.

According to Lewis' candidate profile from the time, he was a captain in the Army National Guard and was deployed to the Persian Gulf and Iraq from March 2003 to January 2004. He served as a magistrate at U.S. bases and prisons, including Abu Ghraib.

He also served as treasurer of the state Republican Party in 2004, but resigned the following year after the state GOP picked a new chairman.

@tag:Reach Travis Crum at travis.c...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.