By Ron Gregory
ronjgregory@gmail.com
LENORE — It’s been a long election day in Mingo County and it’s only half over.
Photographs of Mingo County Prosecutor Teresa Maynard apparently involved in a State Police matter at Lenore emerged this morning.
Maynard is shown in multiple pictures while a Mingo County State Policeman is apparently making an arrest on the highway.
A spokesman for the Williamson State Police detachment said the officer was arresting a man on a “capias from family court.”
Sources providing the photos to the Chronicle said the man arrested had been “there working that precinct for Teresa” and identified him as Billy Jack Parsley. They said the man had been stopping vehicles to urge support for the incumbent Prosecutor “and the others on her slate.”
The State Police spokesman, who said he did not personally make the arrest, did not want to discuss details. He admitted, however, that he could not say the situation was “unrelated” to the election.
“There was a capias. We were notified where the suspect was and he was arrested,” he said.
Maynard is shown in multiple pictures while a Mingo County State Policeman is apparently making an arrest on the highway.
A spokesman for the Williamson State Police detachment said the officer was arresting a man on a “capias from family court.”
Sources providing the photos to the Chronicle said the man arrested had been “there working that precinct for Teresa” and identified him as Billy Jack Parsley. They said the man had been stopping vehicles to urge support for the incumbent Prosecutor “and the others on her slate.”
The State Police spokesman, who said he did not personally make the arrest, did not want to discuss details. He admitted, however, that he could not say the situation was “unrelated” to the election.
“There was a capias. We were notified where the suspect was and he was arrested,” he said.
A source close to Prosecutor Maynard said State Police also cited a vehicle that stopped to speak with Maynard. “I heard they cited him for blocking the highway,” the source said.
Maynard herself was not in the Prosecutor’s office Tuesday but a secretary said assistant prosecutors were handling any incoming calls related to the election.
An employee in the office of County Clerk Big Jim Hatfield said that office received numerous complaint calls concerning the Lenore precinct this morning. The employee said the Secretary of State’s office apparently received several calls as well. “That may be who called the State Police,” the employee said. “But we finally called 911 and reported that there were complaints coming in.”
Other reported incidents related to the election alleged that two candidates placed yard signs in a homeowner’s yard without permission, which led to an eventual confrontation with a neighbor across the street in Matewan on election eve. Another report said that a candidate was forced to leave the Kermit precinct property after initially refusing to obey the 300-foot rule for non-campaigning.
An examination of the capias ordered against Parsley appears to show that it was issued on April 4 by Family Court Judge Sabrina Deskins. Contacted by phone today, Deskins said she did not recall signing the order “but I certainly don’t remember every order I sign.”
Deskins said she had “no idea whatsoever” who called the police to report Parsley. “I know who didn’t do it and that was me,” the judge said.
Parsley apparently owed $4.73 in arrearage at the time the capias was issued. It appears he may also have owed $325.27 in child support.
Deskins said she did not know why it took officers so long to serve the capias.
Another source said Sheriff James Smith was the first to approach Parsley concerning the campaigning at Lenore. “The Sheriff aakipparently had calls about him (Parsley) electioneering and blocking the road,” the source said. “James drove up and talked to him for a minute. Of course, James was on his (Parsley’s) slate too.”
The same source said Smith was in Matewan investigating the alleged altercation involving the yard signs in the homeowner’s yard. “He’s taking a criminal complaint right now,” the source said.
The Sheriff could not be reached for comment.