Mingo Magistrate Sues Former Judge, Others

A Mingo County magistrate has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was targeted by other officials for opposing corruption.

Magistrate Deloris "Dee" Sidebottom filed the lawsuit in Kanawha County Circuit Court.

Defendants include former Mingo County Circuit Court Judge Michael Thornsbury, former prosecutor Michael Sparks and former state police Trooper Brandon Moore.

The lawsuit alleges that Thornsbury, Sparks and Moore tried to force her out of office because she voted against Thornsbury's political allies.

Thornsbury's attorney, William Slicer, called the lawsuit a vendetta. He says the former judge replaced Sidebottom as chief magistrate with another person.

Thornsbury was sentenced in June to 50 months in prison on federal corruption charges. Sparks received a one-year sentence earlier this month in the case.