Suspended Mingo County Judge Michael Thornsbury to plead guilty

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Suspended Mingo County Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury will be in court Wednesday to plead guilty in the second conspiracy case brought against him.

A plea hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Charleston before Judge Thomas Johnston.

Information filed against Thornsbury alleges he conspired with other elected officials in Mingo County to thwart a federal drug investigation into late Mingo County Sheriff Eugene Crum.

Federal prosecutors claim Thornsbury promised a lighter sentence to Crum’s alleged drug dealer if the man fired his lawyer and ended talks with FBI investigators about Crum.

Thornsbury was originally accused of abusing his judicial powers to target the husband of his ex-mistress. That federal charge has been replaced with the new charge.