Published: January 04, 2008 11:56 am      

Grand jury indicts Davis

ROMNEY - Former Romney attorney and chairman of the Hampshire County Building Commission Christopher Davis was indicted on nine counts of embezzlement by a Hampshire County grand jury Tuesday and will be arraigned Jan. 11.

According to the indictment, Davis is alleged to have begun taking money for his own use from the building commission funds to which he had access by virtue of his position in January 2006.

Additionally, he is alleged to have taken funds from the building commission fund in March and June 2006, again in August, and yet again in January and May 2007. He was arrested by the West Virginia State Police in May after allegedly admitting to taking the money.

An investigation determined about $110,000 was missing from the county building fund.

The building commission has been responsible for a number of renovation projects at the courthouse, annex and the largest, the new $7 million judicial complex under construction.

County Commission President Don Cookman said the money taken apparently came from the county portion of the funding for the judicial complex and not the bond funds earmarked for the project.

Prior to the alleged embezzlement coming to light, Davis and his wife had been practicing attorneys in the Romney area and had served on committees and civil organizations. They moved to Clarksburg shortly before his arrest.

During the investigation, led by Cpl. V.J. Gall of the state police, Davis was said to be cooperative with police and county officials.

Davis, a charter member of the building commission and its chairman since its inception, resigned from the commission May 22.

Vice Chairman Walter Davis, no relation, replaced him as chairman and has continued to present to the county commission monthly reports on the judicial complex and its budget as well as other projects the commission is charged with overseeing.

Because of the close relationship between the building commission and other county officials, Hampshire County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Moreland and Judge Donald H. Cookman recused themselves from involvement in the embezzlement case.

It has been assigned to prosecuting attorneys from Hardy and Grant counties, Lucas See and Dennis DiBenedetto, as special prosecutors and will be heard by Senior Judge Donald Hott of Mineral County.

DiBenedetto said that while he was the prosecutor present for Tuesday's grand jury, either he or See, or both, depending on their schedules, will be representing the state in the preliminary hearings between now and the trial. "We'll both be present, if and when, the case comes to trial," he said.

The arraignment hearing on the indictment has been set for 11 a.m. Jan. 11.

State police Cpl. R.W. Mason testified before the grand jury as to the facts of the case.

Davis is being represented by Clarksburg attorney April Conner.

Contact Mona Ridder at mridder@times-news.com.