Embezzlement case in Fort Gay goes to Grand Jury in March

By Roberta Cantrell

BSN Editor

The case against former Fort Gay, WV Mayor Joetta Hatfield and town recorder Sheila Bowen will be heard by the Grand Jury and will likely begin in the court system beginning in March after they waived their preliminary hearings in Wayne County Court on Thursday, January 16.

The pair is accused of using town money to pay their personal bills on multiple occasions and both have been charged with several financial crimes such as fraudulent schemes, embezzlement, falsifying accounts, money laundering and conspiracy.

Investigators said the pair are also accused of working together to falsify more than 200 checks worth nearly $200,000.

According to criminal complaints filed in Wayne County Magistrate Court, the charges stem from their work for the town of Fort Gay in incidents dating back to March 2019.

Special prosecutor Seth Gaskins of Mason County, the West Virginia State Police and the Fraud Unit of the West Virginia Auditor’s Office have joined forces to prosecute the case. Both are currently out free on bond.