MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Embattled Berkeley County Sheriff Nathan Harmon says he plans to resign later this month.
The Martinsburg Journal reports that Harmon’s resignation, set to take effect on December 26th, is part of a plea agreement with a special prosecutor regarding his actions after his daughter’s car crash earlier this year.
By signing the agreement, Harmon has agreed to plead guilty to the misdemeanor offense of obstructing a law enforcement officer.
In exchange, Harmon’s three additional misdemeanor charges from his October indictment—including providing false information to a state trooper—will be dismissed. The state will recommend that Harmon be fined $500.
Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Catie Wilkes Delligatti tells The Panhandle News Network
The October indictment alleges Harmon obstructed the investigating deputy at the scene of the crash. The second obstruction count alleges Harmon deleted or concealed GPS tracking data from his daughter’s car on Jan 12.
The grand jury also indicted the sheriff for allegedly lying to the investigating state trooper in June about a preliminary breath test not being administered to his daughter. The fourth count alleges Harmon lied about what he did to the GPS to the trooper.
Harmon said shortly after the indictment that the charges are troublesome but he said he has “faith in the justice system and that the jury will see the events of that night as I did.”
Harmon said he came to the scene of the wreck out of concern for his daughter and his vehicle.
“I fully trusted the Deputy to conduct his investigation at his discretion and ability without hinderance. It was not my place, again, I was there as a father. I will walk the people of the jury through a father’s eyes, heart, and concerns,” Harmon said last month.
Berkeley County Prosecutor Catie Wilkes Delligatti and the county commission filed a petition last month to begin the process of having Harmon removed from office.
The petition alleges Harmon is “no longer fit to serve as sheriff of Berkeley County.”
“This is something where it’s going to be up to a court to make a final determination and what’s been set forth now are just allegations,” Berkeley County Prosecutor Catie Wilkes Delligatti said on Panhandle Live.
In addition to participating in the petition, the Berkeley County Commission passed a resolution reflecting the allegations.
“We knew there was a serious issue that needed to be addressed,” Berkeley County Commission President Jim Whitacre said on Panhandle Live.
Story by MetroNews
