Judge: No Pension for Ex-Lincoln Assessor

A circuit judge has blocked former Lincoln County Assessor Jerry Weaver from receiving retirement benefits, The Associated Press reports.

Weaver was one of several county Democrats who pleaded guilty to roles in a vote-buying conspiracy unearthed by federal prosecutors in 2004.

Kanawha Circuit Judge Jim Stucky concluded that Weaver's admitted crimes reflect the sort of "less than honorable service" that triggers the loss of a public pension under state law.

The federal indictment had alleged that the conspirators sought to control the outcome of elections so they could monkey with property tax assessments, among other reasons.

But Weaver had argued that the federal judge in his case had specifically concluded that he did not misuse his office in the course of providing cash to bribe voters.

"Stucky said Weaver will be reimbursed for the contributions he made to the Public Employees Retirement System for 27 years plus interest, but minus payments already received," the AP story said.

MetroNews (which appears to be the first to report on Stucky's July 23 ruling) also has a story, as does The Charleston Gazette.