Former Jefferson County Commissioners End Legal Battle with Plea Deal
Former Jefferson County commissioners accept plea deal, ending year-long legal saga
The Journal | Friday, November 1, 2024
By Tom Markland
In an article by The Journal, two former Jefferson County commissioners, Tricia Jackson and Jennifer Krouse, have accepted a plea deal that resolves a lengthy legal dispute stemming from their removal from office for failing to attend commission meetings. Originally charged with 42 misdemeanors, the pair pleaded 'no contest' to a single count of failure to perform official duties, resulting in a $50 fine and the dismissal of the remaining charges. Their absence from meetings was a protest against what they viewed as a flawed appointment process, leading to accusations of jeopardizing public safety and financial losses to taxpayers. Their plea follows an affirmation by the West Virginia Supreme Court supporting their removal.