Former Prosecutor’s Cooperation Considered in Sentencing Set for Today

A prosecuting attorney who admitted his guilt in a political corruption case will learn his fate in court, Monday.

Former Mingo County prosecutor Michael Sparks is set to be sentenced in Federal Court at 1:30 p.m.

This comes after his sentencing was delayed four times.

According to a court document filed Friday by the U.S. Attorney's office, Sparks is being charged with a misdemeanor deprivation of rights, which means he faces up to one year in prison.

The only alternative charge is a felony charge, which carries a ten-year maximum prison sentence. That's the same charge former Circuit Court Judge Michael Thornsbury faced, who was ultimately sentenced to 50 months in prison.

Thornsbury, Sparks, and former county commissioner David Baisden all admit to playing part in a scheme to deprive a man of his constitutional rights, in order to protect the late sheriff, Eugene Crum, who was accused of buying drugs from the man.

The U.S. Attorney's Office explains in the document that Sparks' role in the scheme was significantly less than his co-conspirators. Also, Sparks was the only one to cooperate with the government early in the investigation; providing a "crack in the wall" in the investigation.

By charging Sparks with a lesser charge, the U.S. Attorney's office hopes to show importance of cooperating with authorities and "encouraging future cooperation by insiders in other corrupt organizations."