Mingo County Magistrate Cleared, County Commissioner and Circuit Judge Charged

[Lasher]

Mingo County Magistrate cleared

Mingo County Magistrate Deloris D. “Dee” Sidebottom has been fully reinstated after an investigation sparked by a motion filed by Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney C. Michael Sparks in November 2012.

The motion asked for the disqualification of Magistrate Sidebottom, listing a number of allegations she had violated West Virginia Codes of Judicial Conduct and stating Magistrate Sidebottom had “engaged in a course of increasingly unprofessional and paranoid misconduct that potentially diminishes the public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary and raises substantial questions as to Magistrate Sidebottom’s fittness for office.”

<snip>

By letter to Magistrate Sidebottom, the Judicial Investigation Commission dismissed the Complaint filed by Sparks and indicated that “…there did not appear to be any violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct…” on the part of the Magistrate.

The letter from the Judicial Investigation Commission went on to say that the Complaint should never have been filed, writing that there was “…no probable cause to file a Complaint before the Judicial Hearing Board so charging” and that “Mr. Sparks has been advised of the dismissal of his Complaint and of the Commission’s reasons for such action.”

<snip>

The order was signed on August 6, 2013, by Chief Circuit Judge, 30th Judicial Circuit Michael Thornsbury.

http://www.coalvalleynews.com/news/home_top-news/2394703/Mingo-County-Magistrate-cleared

Now get this:

W.Va. County Reeling as Judge, Official Indicted
WILLIAMSON, W.Va. August 16, 2013 (AP)

Even in southern West Virginia, where corruption is as much as a part of life as coal, people are shocked by allegations that a judge commandeered the legal system in a years-long attempt to frame a romantic rival for crimes he didn't commit.

Federal prosecutors indicted Mingo County Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury on two counts of conspiracy Thursday, just hours after indicting County Commissioner Dave Baisden on extortion charges. Thornsbury attorney Steve Jory declined comment while Baisden's attorney did not return messages.

<snip>

The indictment says Thornsbury tried between 2008 and 2012 to frame Robert Woodruff for crimes including drug possession, larceny and assault. The judge had been having an affair with his secretary — Woodruff's wife, Kim — and he tried to eliminate the competition after she tried to break things off, it says.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/wva-judge-county-official-face-federal-charges-19974460

Sidebottom, Thornsbury, and Baisden are all Democrats.

[Hubert Flottz]

1. But Mingo has a fine TV show!

Them Hatfield guys are a tough bunch to this day, but old Granny McCoy keeps them all straight with her cattle prod and her vintage Mustang. I've chowed down in that restaurant in Matewan that the Hatfields hang out in. Classy town! I got out of Matewan before dark, because I didn't want to run on to one of those nasty Baldwin Felts ghosts. A lot of history in Bloody Mingo.

[Lasher]

2. I was in Matewan right after the big flood in 1977

There's some stories I could tell about that. We need to go fishing so I can tell you proper.

[Hubert Flottz]

3. These cool nights will trigger the fish to start feeding up for winter.

It's when the big ones chow down big time.

Some of my friends built the floodwall in Matewan. They drove it every day from Charleston and that was before the new 4 lane road was finished past Logan.

[Lasher]

4. Shit, they were living in the lap of luxury.

I was part of a utility restoration effort. We were initially billeted in the children's quarters at Cabway Lingo State Park. It was really cold at the time in that unheated barrack, and when I pulled my tiny blanket up around my neck, I exposed my legs almost up to my knees. There was only one blanket per hero.

But I'm spoiling my story that I want to save for a fishing trip. How about the New River at Hinton sometime during the next couple of weeks? I hurt my foot real bad three years ago but I might be up for it now. Maybe I'd be better off in a boat trip if you can think of anything awesome.

[Hubert Flottz]

5. I've been having some a-fib issues lately, so I've been mostly hanging here at home.

Going back to the heart doctor the first of next month, so I'll tell him I need to start fishing again and see what he says. He fishes so he will probably give me the OK if I pass my tests.(I haven't been studying)

My heart would be better if the Mountaineers would get their act together. The Herd would tear the Eers up this year if they played.

[Hubert Flottz]

6. I think there's a typo in your OP...

Shouldn't that read?

Mingo County Circus Judge Michael Thornsbury, instead of Mingo County Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury ?

I look for another blood fracas at Blackberry Krik any day now, over this runaway love triangle thing and the other assorted goings on in Bloody Mingo. I think that circus judge is the Mingo Mongo. The drama center of West Bye Gawd! They all drink that shine and then cut a shine, only on days that end in y, as near as I can figure. It all works out at the Sunday meetin' over at Jolo. That lady the judge was sweet on was fairly looksome the best I could tell on my TV.

[Sanddog42]

7. I remember the great flood of '77

I was seven years old and still living on Alderson St. in Williamson, right across from the high school where the Red Cross had emergency food distribution set up.

[Sanddog42]

8. What TV show is this?

I was born in Mingo and still have people there. Would be interesting to see this show.

[Hubert Flottz]

9. Enjoy

http://www.history.com/shows/hatfields-and-mccoys-white-lightning