Thornsbury
appeared before Federal Magistrate Judge Dwane Tinsley on Thursday on charges
he conspired to plant drugs on a Mingo
County
State
Supreme Court Administrator Steve Canterbury filed an extraordinary complaint
against Thornsbury with the judicial investigation commission Thursday. The
panel recommended the suspension for Thornsbury and the state Supreme Court
agreed.
Retired
Cabell County Circuit Judge John Cummings and former state Supreme Court
Justice Thomas McHugh will hear cases in Mingo County
Both
Thornsbury and Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden maintained their
innocence as they left the federal courthouse in Charleston
“The
truth will be told and I’ll be acquitted. I’m not guilty,” Thornsbury said.
The
indictment alleges the judge used his power and influence to try and frame
the secretary’s husband after she cut off the affair with the judge.
Commissioner
Baisden, who is charged with attempted extortion in a separate case, also said
he didn’t do it.
“I
haven’t done anything wrong,” he said.
He
also had a message for Mingo
County
“They
know who they elected and I’ve always been an honest man, a hardworking man.
I’ll be alright.”
While
free on bond, Thornsbury and Baisden were warned not to talk to several
witnesses about the case.
Federal
Magistrate Judge Tinsley read the list to Thornsbury during his initial
appearance. Included on that list are his former secretary and her husband.
Thornsbury cannot talk with his good friend and business partner Jarrod
Fletcher, the director of Homeland Security in Mingo County
Commissioner
Baisden can continue his work on the county commission but cannot talk with
fellow commissioners Greg “Hootie” Smith or John Mark Hubbard about the case.
Both men are scheduled to be
back before the magistrate judge next Wednesday morning for their formal
arraignments.
