Kanawha prosecutor takes Mingo sheriff murder case

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Kanawha County Prosecutor Mark Plants has been appointed the special prosecutor in the murder of Mingo County Sheriff Eugene Crum. 

Plants said Tuesday that he’ll work with Kanawha County Assistant Prosecutor Fred Giggenbach in the prosecution of Tennis Maynard, the Delbarton man who allegedly shot and killed Sheriff Crum in his parked cruiser during a lunch break in Williamson back in April.

Plants replaces Mingo County Prosecutor Michael Sparks who recused himself last week for “an emerging conflict of interest.” The following day Sparks was named in a federal information that he was allegedly part of a conspiracy with Mingo County Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury and others in connection with a drug case initiated by Sheriff Crum. Sparks has not been charged and he denies being part of the conspiracy.

Plants said once he gets the Maynard case file he’ll head to Williamson to begin interviewing witnesses in connection with the sheriff’s death.

“We’re going to see what previous testimony they’ve given with regard to this case and take that into consideration as part of the evidence that we move forward with the prosecution,” Plants said.

Maynard is being held without bail in the Western Regional Jail. He was shot 7 times by an off-duty deputy not long after Crum was shot. He was in the hospital for several weeks.

Plants said he’ll treat the case just like he does murder cases in his county.

“This case is going to prosecuted based on the evidence and the law and we’re going to maximize the prison sentence based on the evidence we have,” he said.

Cabell County Circuit Judge Paul Farrell is presiding over the case. He currently has a trial date of Dec. 9.