Former Mingo
County Prosecutor Michael Sparks will appear before
a federal judge Monday to plead guilty to a criminal charge.
Sparks resigned from the office last
month after he was indicted on a charge of violating a man’s constitutional
rights. According to the court filing, Sparks
participated in a conspiracy with other Mingo County
officials to thwart a federal investigation into late Mingo County Sheriff
Eugene Crum.
U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said Sparks will appear before U.S. District Judge Thomas
Johnston at the federal courthouse in Charleston
Monday afternoon at 1:30.
“He’s entered into a plea agreement
with our office. We’ve filed an information,” according to Goodwin.
Sparks is the third person to enter a
plea deal in connection to a corruption case in Mingo County.
“This is obviously an ongoing
investigation. Significant players have already been prosecuted and Monday is
yet another step in that direction,” Goodwin said.
Last month former Mingo County
Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury and former Mingo County Commissioner David
Baisden both entered guilty pleas Both will be sentenced in January.
Sparks has surrendered his law license
and can no longer practice here in West
Virginia. He has been cooperating with federal
investigators.
