Former Barbour County sheriff sentenced to 366 days in prison

The former Barbour County sheriff was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for scheming to defraud an insurance company, said U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld.

John W. Hawkins, 48, of Philippi was sentenced Tuesday as a result of his conviction for felony mail fraud in February.

Chief U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey imposed a sentence above the advisory guideline, citing the betrayal of trust by Hawkins to the citizens of Barbour County.

Hawkins, who resigned from his position as sheriff when he entered his guilty plea four months ago, is scheduled to self-report to prison in July and must make full restitution.

Hawkins admitted to staging an automobile accident in April 2013 and then conspiring to fabricate a report for submission to Nationwide Insurance Company.

Hawkins agreed he used the U.S. mail to make a fraudulent claim worth $8,262.65, which was paid to him by Nationwide last year.

Agents and officers from the FBI and the West Virginia state police led the inquiry into Hawkins.