Plea date set for Mingo County Commissioner

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A plea hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Charleston for Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden who is charged with extortion.

Baisden, 66, is accused of ending Mingo County’s business with Appalachian Tire when business owners refused to give him the discounted county price for tires for his personal vehicle in 2009.

Only government vehicles are eligible for the special price.

Since his indictment for extortion in August, he has since given up his purchasing agent position but is still a member of the Mingo County Commission.

Baisden’s trial had been scheduled to start on Oct. 21.