CORRIDOR CHRONICLE
Maroney hearing continued
by Ron Gregory
Moundsville — An evidentiary hearing scheduled Thursday in Marshall County Magistrate Court for State Senator Mike Maroney has been continued, according to a court official.
The Republican senator, a candidate for re-election in the November 3 general election, will now not likely face his misdemeanor prostitution solicitation charges until after the election.
The reason for the continuance is the need to appoint a special prosecutor in the case, the official said. Until now, Marshall Prosecutor Rhonda L. Wade had been handling the case.
Wade chose not to seek re-election this year.
When asked if her office would provide any information after the hearing was held (on the assumption it would go forward as originally scheduled), Wade made it clear that she would not.
Maroney’s Democrat opponent, Josh Gary, has complained that Marshall County court officials are not being transparent and have taken too long to hold a trial on the charges. He could not be reached for comment after the latest delay was announced Wednesday morning.
Maroney has generally maintained silence regarding the May 2019 incident in which Glen Dale police maintain his cell phone was used to solicit a prostitute. He did plead not guilty and posted $4,500 bond when originally charged.
Gary said he has complained twice to the state supreme court that all documents in the case are not being made public. He also believes a trial for the senator should already have been held.
Because of Covid-19 restrictions and the small size of the courtroom, spectators are not being permitted in the hearings themselves.
A pre-trial hearing that had been scheduled for October 19 has also been postponed. Maroney has requested a trial by jury.