Former Mayor and Treasurer Enter Guilty Pleas

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

WAYNE, WV — Former Fort Gay Mayor and former Treasurer/Recorder pled guilty on Friday, Sept. 26, after being indicted for allegedly embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funds in July.

Joetta Hatfield and Sheila Kay Bowens, were both charged with embezzlement, fraudulent schemes, conspiracy, falsifying accounts, and computer fraud.

The pair allegedly misdirected more than $370,000 of public funds during an eight-year period using credit cards and other means.

According to the indictment, it states that on or about Feb. 2017, to on or about Feb. 2025, in Wayne County, WV. Both Hatfield and Bowen committed the felony offense of embezzlement, or converting to her own use, and or for the benefit of another, certain funds belonging to the town of Fort gay, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner thereof from said funds through vendor checks, payroll checks, municipal service payments and withdraw liquid cash funds for her own personal use.

Hatfield pled guilty to the felony embezzlement charge with all remaining counts against her were dismissed.

She must pay $245,249.43 and is subject to a pre-sentence investigation. Hatfield could end up being in prison for one to 10 years if further evidence appears in the pre-sentence investigation.

Bowen pled guilty to the felony embezzlement charge and all remaining counts against her were dismissed. She must pay $127,004.41.

The state recommends three to five years of supervised probation instead of one to 10 years in jail.

Both of their sentencing hearings are scheduled for Nov. 6 at 9 a.m.