The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Police/Courts

September 8, 2008

Police officer arrested on felony charge

By Christian M. Giggenbach

A Lester police officer turned himself in to Beckley authorities Friday and was arrested for illegally charging gas to a credit card issued by his former employer, the town of Mabscott.

Jason Glen Sheets, 21, of Coal City, was charged with one felony count of fraudulent use of an access device, according to a criminal complaint filed by Detective Sgt. David Allard. The complaint said Sheets had been “terminated” from the Mabscott police department on Aug. 11 for “some type of situation in which he was later called by the Mayor of Mabscott and asked to come in and talk about.”

“(Mabscott Captain Jason) Kerr advised the suspect to come in, and that led to his termination on Aug. 11,” Allard wrote in the complaint.

Sheets was then asked to turn in all of his assigned equipment, the complaint said, including a BP Fuel credit card.

“ ... it was discovered that the suspect’s BP Fuel card had been used on 8/12/08 for the purchase of 18.96 gallons in the amount of $75.48,” the complaint said. “This transaction was after the date that the suspect had been terminated.”

During an interview with Beckley police, Sheets said he returned the credit card to Mabscott officials on Aug. 17.

“The suspect denied using the credit card or having any knowledge of who used the card,” the complaint said. “The suspect initially stated that his wife or brother could have used it, then he stated if he did use it, he didn’t remember doing it.”

Allard was unable to comment Monday due to the “pending investigation.”

Although Sheets admitted to having the card in his possession on Aug. 12, Allard wrote in the complaint, the suspect “strongly denied any knowledge of who used the card.”

Sheets was arraigned before Magistrate Charles Humphrey and was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond.

When reached at his home phone Monday, Sheets said Mabscott officials “did not give me any reason” for being fired. Sheets initially called his arrest “not a big deal,” but then declined further comment.

If convicted, Sheets faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a $10,000 fine, or both.

— E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com

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