WAYNE Ƶ Former Fort Gay officials Joetta Hatfield and Sheila Bowen were not indicted when they returned on their bonds Tuesday at the Wayne County Courthouse, according to the Circuit ClerkƵs Office.
Seth Gaskins, prosecuting attorney for Mason County, who is handling both cases due to the Wayne County Prosecuting AttorneyƵs Office recusing itself, said Tuesday the West Virginia State AuditorƵs Office and the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) decided, for the purpose of further investigation, not to present the case to this term of court.
Gaskins said they hope to present the case in the next term.
Hatfield, Fort GayƵs former mayor, and Bowen, the townƵs former treasurer and recorder, were arrested Nov. 22, 2024, after being charged with felony fraudulent schemes, embezzlement, falsifying accounts, laundering through financial transactions and conspiracy (conspiracy to falsifying accounts). Both were released after each posting $25,000 bail.
Ƶ of Tuesday, the case was still bound over after being transferred from magistrate to circuit court, according to the Circuit ClerkƵs office.
The Circuit ClerkƵs office said the current petit jury started March 10, and the next petit jury starts July 14.
According to the office, July 15 is Wayne CountyƵs next bond return day, which is the day people on a pre-trial felony bond return to court, are informed if they have been indicted, and are arraigned if so.
Former Fort Gay Town Council members Ralph ƵJunebugƵ Dent and Wade Cyrus were sworn in as the townƵs mayor and recorder, respectively, during a special meeting of the town council Dec. 9, 2024, for unexpired terms to run through June 30, 2025, after the council approved the resignation of Hatfield and Bowen.
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