CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two elected officials in Mingo County facing separate charges will be back in court Wednesday morning.
Mingo County Circuit Judge Michael Thornsbury and Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden will be arraigned at 10 a.m. before Federal Magistrate Judge Dwane Tinsley in Charleston.
Thornsbury was arrested and charged last Thursday with violating a man’s Constitutional rights. Thornsbury allegedly attempted, on four different occasions, to frame the husband of his ex-mistress, who at one time was his secretary. He was allegedly trying to continue an affair with the women.
Baisden was also arrested and charged last Thursday, but for attempted extortion. Baisden allegedly demanded Appalachian Tire to sell him tires at the discounted rate the company sold tires to the county.
The indictment said Baisden threatened to cut-off the business the county had with the company if they refused to give him the deal. The company refused and the commission stopped doing business with Appalachian Tire in 2009.
Both men were indicted on the separate charges last week by a federal grand jury. Baisden and Thornsbury were released afterward on $10,000 bond.
Thornsbury was also suspended without pay and his law license has been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal case against him.