Tag: Judge Michael Thornsbury

Feds Seek Delay in Ex-W.Va. Judge's Sentencing

Federal prosecutors are seeking a delay in the sentencing of a former Mingo County circuit judge so they can have more time to investigate information he provided in a corruption probe.
 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Ruby filed a motion Thursday asking a federal judge to delay Michael Thornsbury’s Jan. 13 sentencing by 90 days.
 

Ruby’s motion says prosecutors don’t anticipate their investigation stemming from Thornsbury’s cooperation will be finished by his sentencing date.

Thornsbury resigned in October before pleading guilty to conspiring to deprive campaign sign maker George White of his constitutional rights.
 
The charge states Thornsbury helped devise a scheme to keep White from talking to the FBI about allegedly providing Sheriff Eugene Crum with prescription pills. Crum was killed in April in an unrelated shooting.
 

Panel Recommends Replacements for Two W.Va. Judges

An advisory panel is recommending two Mingo County public defenders as potential candidates to replace former Circuit Court Judge Michael Thornsbury.
 
     The Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission submitted the names of Teresa McCune and Jonathan Jewel to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Tuesday.

     The commission also recommended Deloris Nibert to replace former Putnam County Family Court Judge William Watkins. Nibert was the only applicant for the position.
 
     Thornsbury pleaded guilty in October to a federal conspiracy charge and resigned from the bench.
 
     Watkins resigned in November. The state Supreme Court had suspended him in March until the end of his term in 2016. He was accused of delaying rulings, screaming and cursing at litigants, and failing to enter domestic violence orders into the state’s tracking system.
 

Chafin Withdraws Name for Mingo Judge's Seat

A former state Supreme Court candidate has withdrawn from consideration as an appointed circuit judge in Mingo County.

Tish Chafin wrote to the state Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission on Thursday. Commission member Kent Carper tells The Charleston Gazette that Chafin sought the position out of concern that solid candidates wouldn’t apply.

Six others have applied to fill the remaining term of the circuit court seat formerly held by Michael Thornsbury. He pleaded guilty in October to a federal conspiracy charge and resigned from the bench. He was elected to an eight-year term in 2008.

The commission will recommend up to five names to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, who will make the appointment.

 The state Supreme Court appointed a Cabell County senior status judge as a temporary replacement for Thornsbury.

Mingo Co. judge pleads guilty, resigns from office

Judge Michael Thornsbury pleaded guilty to federal charges for violating a Mingo County man’s Constitutional rights when attempting to cover up a drug deal.

The man, identified as G.W., was advised by his attorney to provide the FBI with information that Sheriff Eugene Crum bought drugs from him. Thornsbury was attempting to cover up the purchase and was charged with two counts of conspiracy for the scheme.

Along with pleading guilty, Thornsbury tendered his resignation as Mingo County Circuit Judge and consented to disbarment by the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

“A judge swears an oath to uphold the Constitution and to abide by the highest standards of integrity. For a judge to have violated someone’s Constitutional rights is really beyond the pail,” said u.S. Prosecuting Attorney Booth Goodwin after the hearing, “but to violate someone’s rights in order to obstruct a federal investigation, that’s really unthinkable.”

Thornsbury faces a maximum 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

Prosecutors agreed to also dismiss separate charges in which the former judge tried to frame his secretary’s husband.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 13, 2014. He was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Mingo Co. Commissioner accepts deal, pleads guilty

Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge stemming from a federal investigation into corruption in the county. Baisden agreed to a plea bargain from federal prosecutors and will await his sentencing in January.
“No comment.”

That’s about all Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden had to say as he exited the U.S. District Courthouse in Charleston after pleading guilty to federal charges.

Judge John Copenhaver went over the terms of Baisden’s plea agreement just minutes before he was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. The commissioner’s only other comment was about the people of Mingo County.

“I love them and continue to pray for me. Thank you,” he said as he climbed into the driver’s seat of a pick-up truck.

According to federal sentencing guidelines, Baisden faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for attempting to extort Appalachian Tire, a Williamson business that sold tires at a discounted rate for county owned vehicles.

In June of 2009, Baisden directed a county employee to buy a set of tires at the government price from Appalachian for his wife’s vehicle.

When Appalachian refused, Baisden threatened to take county business to another dealer and made good on the threat when managers at Appalachian didn’t respond to the voicemail left on the store’s answering machine.

“You know, this shows you that elected officials have to play by the same set of rules as everyone else,” U.S. Prosecuting Attorney Booth Goodwin said after the hearing. “What Commissioner Baisden did was abuse his power to shakedown a business for special favors.”

As a part of his plea agreement with Goodwin’s office, Baisden agreed to resign as commissioner before his sentencing date, is banned for life from ever seeking elected office and waived his right to appeal to his sentence.

Goodwin said he also agreed to fully cooperate in any future investigations into corruption in Mingo County by the federal prosecutor’s office, an investigation that is on going.

“Our investigation into Mingo County corruption continues. I would anticipate further developments,” he said.

Baisden’s sentencing is scheduled for January 14 in Charleston. He said he will wait until that day to resign as County Commissioner.

Mingo County Judge Michael Thornsbury is expected to plead guilty to charges stemming from a separate investigation Wednesday, October 2.
 

Mingo Co. Commissioner accepts deal, pleads guilty

Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge stemming from a federal investigation into corruption in the county. Baisden agreed to a plea bargain from federal prosecutors and will await his sentencing in January.
“No comment.”

That’s about all Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden had to say as he exited the U.S. District Courthouse in Charleston after pleading guilty to federal charges.

Judge John Copenhaver went over the terms of Baisden’s plea agreement just minutes before he was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. The commissioner’s only other comment was about the people of Mingo County.

“I love them and continue to pray for me. Thank you,” he said as he climbed into the driver’s seat of a pick-up truck.

According to federal sentencing guidelines, Baisden faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for attempting to extort Appalachian Tire, a Williamson business that sold tires at a discounted rate for county owned vehicles.

In June of 2009, Baisden directed a county employee to buy a set of tires at the government price from Appalachian for his wife’s vehicle.

When Appalachian refused, Baisden threatened to take county business to another dealer and made good on the threat when managers at Appalachian didn’t respond to the voicemail left on the store’s answering machine.

“You know, this shows you that elected officials have to play by the same set of rules as everyone else,” U.S. Prosecuting Attorney Booth Goodwin said after the hearing. “What Commissioner Baisden did was abuse his power to shakedown a business for special favors.”

As a part of his plea agreement with Goodwin’s office, Baisden agreed to resign as commissioner before his sentencing date, is banned for life from ever seeking elected office and waived his right to appeal to his sentence.

Goodwin said he also agreed to fully cooperate in any future investigations into corruption in Mingo County by the federal prosecutor’s office, an investigation that is on going.

“Our investigation into Mingo County corruption continues. I would anticipate further developments,” he said.

Baisden’s sentencing is scheduled for January 14 in Charleston. He said he will wait until that day to resign as County Commissioner.

Mingo County Judge Michael Thornsbury is expected to plead guilty to charges stemming from a separate investigation Wednesday, October 2.
 

Exit mobile version