Tax deputy pleads guilty

FAYETTEVILLE — Former chief tax deputy Thomas Woodrum entered a guilty plea in Fayette County Circuit Court Tuesday to an information charging him with one count of felony embezzlement.

The information was filed by Raleigh County assistant prosecutor Ed Bibb, who was appointed to the case after Fayette Prosecuting Attorney Carl Harris recused himself.

Special Senior Status Judge Frank Jolliffe was also appointed to hear the case after Fayette circuit judges John Hatcher and Paul Blake recused themselves.

Woodrum pleaded guilty to embezzling $55,054, which, according to Sheriff Steve Kessler, came from the county’s jury fund.

Jolliffe told Woodrum that, under the plea agreement, he is required to make full restitution and reminded him that no conditions or agreement exists in regard to sentencing.

Woodrum admitted to taking money from the county tax department from Jan. 1, 2005, to Feb. 3, 2009, when he turned himself in.

Woodrum, who had been the sheriff’s chief tax deputy since 1997, also served as a Fayetteville city councilman, but resigned both posts after admitting to the embezzlement.

Officials say Woodrum cooperated with Kessler and auditors during the investigation.

“Mr. Woodrum’s attorney (Chris Moorehead) approached me on the third day of February, when I had only been in office about 30 days,” Kessler said Tuesday. “He stated that Woodrum had taken money from the tax office and was willing to come forward and tell us where he had taken it from and what he had done.”

Kessler added Woodrum’s cooperation did save time by telling investigators where to look.

“A lot of trust is placed on the chief tax deputy, and we are not the only county this has happened to,” he continued. “I have known Thomas Woodrum for a very long time, and he has worked for the county about as long as I have. I was shocked and disappointed, but I think we did the right things and have handled it properly.”

Woodrum, 57, faces a possible sentence of one to 10 years in prison, or up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

His bond was set at $25,000. He will be sentenced Jan. 15

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Tax official pleads guilty

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va.- A former Fayette County tax official is expected to plead guilty to embezzling about $55,000 in county funds.


Tom Woodrum's plea hearing is set for Nov. 10 in Fayetteville.


Special Prosecutor Ed Bibb said a felony information has been filed against Woodrum. Such a document usually means the defendant has agreed to plead guilty.


The former chief tax deputy is accused of stealing the money while working for the Fayette County Sheriff's Department's Tax Office between fiscal year 2006 and 2008.


Most of the missing money was to pay for jurors and witnesses.


Reached at his home, Woodrum declined to comment.

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6 Arraigned in Barbour County

Barbour County Circuit Judge Alan D. Moats arraigned the six individuals Wednesday who were indicted by a Barbour County Grand Jury earlier in the week.

Justin E. Mayle, 22, of 601 Maple Ave., Philippi, appeared with Howard Ferris and pleaded innocent to one count of second-degree sexual assault, a felony. Moats continued Mayle's current bond under the condition he participate in the community correction program.

According to the indictment, Mayle is accused of unlawfully engaging in sexual intercourse with a male victim while the victim was physically helpless on Dec. 21, 2008.

Bryant M. Cummings, 20, of Route 53, Box 223, Coalton, and Shawn M. Lindsay, 21, of Beverly, appeared together and both pleaded innocent to one count each of breaking and entering and conspiracy.

Attorney Leckta Poling represented Cummings and attorney Lisa Weese Ferguson represented Lindsay. Moats ordered both men could remain on bond under the condition they participate in the community corrections program.

According to the indictments, the men are accused of breaking into a building owned by Max Chevalier on Jan. 28.

Garrett J. Summerfield, 18, of Route 1, Box 218-2, Philippi, appeared with Ferguson and pleaded innocent to one count of breaking and entering, a felony. Moats continued Summerfield's bond under the condition he participate in the community corrections program.

According to the indictment, Summerfield is accused of breaking into a building owned by McVickers Salvage on May 4.

Richard W. Koehlerschmidt, of Route 3, Box 192-A, Philippi, appeared with Ferris and pleaded innocent to two counts of failure to register change of sex offender information, a felony. Moats did not set bond because Koehlerschmidt is currently incarcerated at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on separate charges.

According to the indictment, Koehlerschmidt failed to provide a change in information according to the Sex Offender Registration Act on May 22 and Aug. 30.

Dianna L. Zajic, of 403 Maple Ave., Philippi, appeared with attorney Karen Hill Johnson and pleaded innocent to one count of embezzlement, a felony. Moats set bond at $5,000 and ordered Zajic have no contact with the victim.

According to the indictment, Zajic is accused of stealing money from a joint account with Norma L. McCoy that was supposed to be used solely for the purpose of paying McCoy's bills.

Barbour County Prosecuting Attorney E. Lynn Phillips presented the state's cases

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Taylor County tax deputy pleads guilty

GRAFTON -- A former Taylor County chief tax deputy has pleaded guilty to embezzling from the county. At Kay Thorn's arraignment Thursday afternoon she withdrew her prior not guilty plea and entered a guilty plea. "I took the money to gamble sir," Thorn said in court. Judge John Henning, who was appointed by the state Supreme Court, accepted Thorn's plea. Special Prosecutor E. Lynn Phillips, from Barbour County, recommended probation for Thorn pending a favorable presentence investigation. Thorn's sentence will most likely include some kind of restitution, officials say. Sentencing in scheduled for Dec. 3. An audit showed that $114,068.75 went missing between August 2004 and March 2009. Thorn worked in courthouse for 33 years.

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Fairmont man charged with embezzlement

FAIRMONT — A local man has been arrested and charged with embezzling thousands of dollars from the Fairmont-Marion County Food Pantry.

Mitch Weaver, 51, of Fairmont, former director of the food pantry, was arrested late Thursday by the Marion County Sheriff’s Department. As of Friday, Weaver was incarcerated in North Central Regional Jail. His bond was set at $20,000.

Detective Chip Phillips said Weaver allegedly embezzled about $53,792 from May 2005 to March 2009. He said when the pantry’s board of directors discovered the shortage, it contacted the sheriff’s department, which conducted a thorough investigation into the organization’s financial records.

Phillips said if Weaver is convicted for embezzling, a felony, he faces up to 10 years in jail and fines.

In late March, Weaver resigned as director, according to a letter sent by the food pantry to volunteers and concerned parties. The letter said the food pantry’s governing board decided to conduct an audit, hire a new director and reorganize.

The board also decided to temporarily close the pantry in March due to a lack of funds and food, but it reopened in May.

Many area churches and organizations have contributed to the food pantry for years.

The pantry has fed thousands of people for nearly 30 years, but it closed briefly in late March to reorganize. Located at 107 Jefferson St., the pantry serves 300-400 families or more than 1,200 people a month.

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