WAYNE ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” A Wayne County grand jury has returned a nine-count indictment charging former Town of Fort Gay Mayor Joetta R. Hatfield and former Treasurer and Recorder Sheila K. Bowen with embezzlement, fraudulent schemes, conspiracy, falsifying accounts and computer fraud.
The charges allege the pair illegally diverted more than $370,000 of public funds over an eight-year period, according to Wayne County Circuit Court records.
The indictments were announced during bond return day on Tuesday, July 15, in the second-floor Circuit Courtroom of the Wayne County Courthouse in Wayne. The formal reading of the indictments was waived and not-guilty pleas were entered on all counts on behalf of Hatfield and Bowen. Pretrial hearings for both defendants were set for 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, before Judge James Young, and trials set for 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 6, before Young.
TuesdayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s bond return day was presided over by Judge Jason Fry, with attorney Ashley Lockwood representing Hatfield and attorney Valarie Maynard representing Bowen.
Based on an investigation by the West Virginia State AuditorÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Public Integrity & Fraud Unit, the indictment alleges that, from February 2017 through February 2025, Hatfield and Bowen used their positions to issue unauthorized vendor and payroll checks, overcompensate themselves for leave, withdraw cash, and adjust utility payments, all for personal benefit.
Investigators estimate Hatfield embezzled approximately $245,249.43, while Bowen embezzled about $127,004.41, according to Circuit Court records.
The charges further allege Hatfield and Bowen manipulated the townÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s books and computer systems to hide their fraud and misrepresent the municipalityÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s financial condition.
Hatfield and Bowen were initially arrested on Nov. 22, 2024, and released after each posted $25,000 bail. Their resignations from their positions were approved by the Fort Gay Town Council during its regular meeting on Dec. 3, 2024; on Dec. 9, 2024, the council appointed then-council members Ralph ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œJunebugÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Dent and Wade T. Cyrus as mayor and recorder, respectively, to serve out the remainder of the unexpired terms, which ran through June 30, 2025.
Fort GayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s current mayor is Robert ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œBobÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Sword and current recorder is Cyrus, both of whom were elected in the townÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s general election on June 10, 2025.
Under the new administrations, the town has worked to improve checks and balances and transparency amongst elected officials, with officials at other governmental levels and with the public. For example, the town has made efforts to provide more complete information to the town council; to catch up on its audits; to work with governmental officials; to clarify its understanding of legal requirements when needed; and to provide access to information and public records through its Facebook page and other means.
HD ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ has attempted, without success, to reach Bowen for comment since her arrest last November. Hatfield, reached Tuesday, said she did not have any comment. Both waived their rights to a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Gary P. Thompson in January, and their cases were bound over to a grand jury at that time.
Mason County Prosecutor Seth Gaskins presented the case to the July session of the Wayne County grand jury. The Wayne County Prosecuting AttorneyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Office recused itself, citing potential conflict of interest.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
