The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Today's Front Page

Related Photos

  • Former Fayette County Deputy Jack Micah Feltner, 41, left, and his attorney, Anthony Cilberti, look on prior to Feltner’s sentencing at the Fayette County Courthouse in Fayetteville Thursday. Christopher J. Jackson

    sentenced
September 17, 2010

Former deputy sentenced

By Andrea Lannom Register-Herald Reporter

FAYETTEVILLE — Jack Micah Feltner, the 41-year-old former fire department president and Fayette County sheriff’s deputy, was sentenced Thursday to two to 20 years in prison.

Feltner pleaded guilty in July to two counts of fraudulent schemes. Feltner was president of the Oak Hill Fire Department Corp. and was responsible for compiling the number of calls and members per call for billing purposes.

Police said the instances had gone on over a period of six to seven years and over that time Feltner had taken around $374,000 by overbilling the funds and keeping the extra money. 

Feltner asked for probation, saying he could continue to support his family. 

“My family needs me,” he said. “If I can’t work, they can’t survive without some sort of state assistance. I would like to ask for probation so I can continue to support them.”

Anthony Ciliberti, Feltner’s attorney, said the court should look at Feltner’s past good deeds and character.

“Even when these allegations came to light, he resigned from the fire department and took the high road,” Ciliberti said. “He then pursued new employment working as a coal truck driver. Unlike so many people, Feltner has no criminal convictions prior to today.”

Ciliberti said probation would be the best route to take.

“This would allow him to continue working and begin to pay the Oak Hill Volunteer Fire Department back the money that was misappropriated.”

Feltner’s sister, Tina Wriston, agreed, saying he was a “family man” and should be allowed to support them.

“I believe he is an upstanding man and a family man,” she said. “He has been a good, productive member of society and his family needs him.”

Special prosecutor Patrick Via disagreed, saying Feltner needed to take responsibility for his actions by serving two consecutive sentences in prison.

“These are serious charges under any circumstances,” Via said. “He served in a position of trust and this was an extraordinary amount of money. He needs to accept responsibility.”

Oak Hill City Manager Bill Hannabass said the actions Feltner took had become a “hardship” for the city.

“This has caused untold sacrifice by the city of Oak Hill,” he said. “For several years, I have served as mayor of Oak Hill and I had the privilege of handing over the fireman’s ax to a dedicated firefighter. One person I handed it to couldn’t even hold it because of how injured he was. The honor of people like this should be upheld.”

Judge John Hatcher said it was one of the saddest days in his 20 years on the bench.

“Sad is an understatement,” he said. “I would have never in my wildest imagination thought I would be facing you as I face you today.”

Hatcher said he could not look back at Feltner’s past good deeds because of his conduct.

“They had mentioned your community service, but all of that is a vapor scattered to the four corners now,” Hatcher said. “When you got up to speak, I knew you would ask for probation. However, I expected an ‘I’m sorry’ to your family, to firefighters, to everyone. This was not said.

“Because you were in a position of trust and because we want everyone to know that if police or fireman or anybody crosses the line and becomes a felon, that they are just like anyone else,” he added. 

Sheriff Steve Kessler said he believed the court made a good decision.

“I believe justice was served,” he said. “There is no difference between us and the public, and there shouldn’t be.”

Feltner was taken to Southern Regional Jail to await transfer to a state prison.

Text Only
Today's Front Page
  • FvilleVigil1 Fayetteville candlelight vigil

    Community members and local chuch leaders gathered Sunday evening for a Memorial Day candlelight vigil at Huse Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fayetteville.

    May 28, 2012 2 Photos

  • 52nd season for Outdoor Dramas to begin June 12

    Theatre West Virginia’s 52nd season will be “Where Legends Live,” focusing on bringing to life West Virginia’s history and local legends.

    May 28, 2012

  • W.Va. political leaders honor nation’s veterans

    From snow-laden Valley Forge to the battered walls of the Alamo, on the blood-stained beaches of the French coastline, in the frigid mountains of Korea and the steamy jungles of Vietnam, and the blistering sands of Iraq and Afghanistan, there is one constant: American heroism.

    May 28, 2012

  • Bodies believed to be missing family found in woods

    Four bodies recovered from a wooded area in Nicholas County near Carl, off Brushy Meadow Creek Road, Saturday are believed to be a missing family from Rainelle, reported First Sgt. Michael Baylous, public information officer for the West Virginia State Police.

    May 27, 2012

  • founder1 Founder’s Day celebrates city’s history

    Coordinators were pleased with the number of people who attended the fourth annual Founder’s Day at Beckley’s founding father’s estate, now the Wildwood Museum.

    May 27, 2012 2 Photos

  • auction NIE Auction and Flea Market coming Saturday

    With more than 200 items to be auctioned off and more than 100 flea market vendors, no one will have to go home empty-handed at Saturday’s 17th annual Newspapers in Education Auction.

    May 27, 2012 1 Photo

  • wvsom WVSOM holds 35th commencement

    More than 170 freshly minted physicians walked across the stage Saturday morning during the 35th annual commencement ceremony at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

    May 27, 2012 1 Photo

  • Beckley’s Founder’s Day a success

    Coordinators were pleased with the number of people who attended the fourth annual Founder’s Day at Beckley’s founding father’s estate, now the Wildwood Museum.

    May 26, 2012

  • WVSOM has 35th annual commencement ceremony

    More than 170 freshly minted physicians walked across the stage Saturday morning during the 35th annual commencement ceremony at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

    May 26, 2012

  • school A fun day at school

    Students who participated in a school fundraiser at Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary School sprayed their principal Becky Smith during a hot Friday. Smith was decked out in flippers, goggles and floaties during the fun. Smith paraded past students as they drenched her with water guns.

    May 26, 2012 1 Photo