Mingo interim sheriff resigns; other personnel changes announced

 WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — A Mingo County Commissioner who is facing a federal attempted extortion charge has resigned from his role as the purchasing agent for Mingo County.

But David Baisden, who was being arraigned on the charge Wednesday morning in U.S. Magistrate Court in Charleston, has not stepped down from the Mingo County Commission.

That change was one of several personnel changes announced during Wednesday’s meeting of the Mingo County Commission.

Interim Mingo County Sheriff Rosie Crum, the widow of Sheriff Eugene Crum who was shot and killed in April, announced her resignation.  It will take effect on September 4 which will be the deadline for applications from those wanting to be sheriff.

Crum recommended Chief Deputy of Operations Dave Rockel for the role.

Wednesday’s meeting was the first since the arrests of Baisden and Mingo County Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury who is accused of violating a man’s Constitutional rights.

Baisden allegedly pulled the county’s business with Appalachian Tire when the company refused to give him the county discount on tires for his personal vehicle.

Thornsbury is charged with targeting the husband of the woman he had an affair with in 2008.  He has been suspended without pay.

Federal prosecutors said Thornsbury, 57, used Mingo County Director of Emergency Services Jarrod Fletcher in his alleged schemes aimed at Robert Woodruff.  Fletcher was suspended without pay on Wednesday morning.