WIRT ASSESSOR ATTEMPTING TO RECOUP LEGAL FEES

(02/10/2011)
Wirt County Assessor Debbie Hennen, who was cleared on appeal after being convicted on charges of fraudulent falsification of a record, has filed a lawsuit against Wirt County seeking reimbursement for her legal fees.

Hennen was found not guilty last year of falsifying a time sheet of a contract worker.

The charges were brought by the county following an investigation by the WV State Police.

Hennen's suit is requesting reimbursement for fees incurred when she was tried on falsifying the employee's work record.

Hennen was convicted of the charge in February 2010 in magistrate court and appealed the conviction in circuit court and was cleared in September 2010.

Wirt County Circuit Court Judge Robert Waters determined Hennen did not act with the intent of gaining anything for herself or anyone else in filling out the time sheet.

Waters said because the employee was on salary, the time sheet had no bearing on how much he would be paid.

Robert Lowe Jr., president of the Wirt County Commission, told the Parkersburg News that he was not sure of the exact amount sought by Hennen, indicating it was in the $15,000 to $17,000 range.

Lowe said the commission turned the problem over to the Board of Risk and Insurance Management.