Bill Charnock has resigned as Kanawha County's elected prosecuting attorney, reportedly after "extensive negotiations" in the criminal probe launched more than one year ago to investigate his conduct, The Charleston Gazette reports.
UPDATE: The Associated Press also has the story.
I recently noted that a judge had extended the time and latitude for the special prosecutor in the case. This earlier post has links to the relevant legislative audits and background.
UPDATE II: Special Prosecutor Dwane Tinsley told MetroNews this morning about the deal Charnock signed Thursday night requiring him to leave office. Nothing short of resignation, Tinsley said, "would have stopped him from taking evidence against Charnock to a grand jury for consideration." Link includes audio.
The Charleston Daily Mail initially reported on Charnock's departure with an online article that did not mention the special prosecutor or the investigation until the 18th of 22 paragraphs (that article has since been removed).
The Daily Mail has since updated its story. Both versions suggest an abrupt exit:
"Charnock, 38, was announcing his resignation to the rest of the prosecutor's office this morning. Then he said he would get in his car and drive to Illinois," the paper reported.
UPDATE III: WSAZ-TV has posted Charnock's resignation letter and a press release from the county commission.
02 March 2007
Charnock Resigns - Updated
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1 comment:
Sadly the best prosecutors in Kanawha County were the ones that had some shady dealings in their personal lives (see Mike Roark). Charnock ran a good office and they actually went to trial on cases. That's something that Forbes & Clifford couldn't say unless it was a high profile case that couldn't be swept away.
The METRO Drug Unit has NEVER went to trial on drug cases in Kanawha County Circuit Court until Charnock was elected. By never, I mean NEVER. If they weren't moved to Federal court, the local prosecutors offered them a deal. If they didn't take the deal, the charges were lowered or dismissed outright.
I just hope that whomever they appoint as a replacement, continues to go to trial on cases.
I and the other officers in this county have had more trials go forward in the last couple of years than we've EVER had.
I wish Charnock well, I just wish he hadn't been so lazy with his campaign.
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