BOARD WANTS TO STRIP BRAXTON MAGISTRATE OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS

(09/03/2008)
The state's Consolidated Public Retirement Board wants to strip the retirement benefits from Braxton County magistrate Carolyn Cruickshanks.

The 48-year-old Cruickshanks has been convicted of conspiring to retaliate against a witness.

The retirement board filed a petition in Kanawha County Circuit Court asking that Cruickshanks be removed from the state Public Employees' Retirement System, saying she has "less than honorable service."

Cruickshanks was convicted in May of conspiring to retaliate against a man who had testified against her son in a drug case. She is currently serving a 120-day sentence at Tygart Valley Regional Jail.

Cruickshanks says she made an error in judgment, but didn't think she committed a crime.