CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Supreme Court has issued orders that appoint judges outside of Kanawha County to handle further proceedings in the case involving Kanawha County Prosecutor Mark Plants.
The High Court said Friday Mercer County Circuit Judge Derek Swope would oversee anything that came to circuit court and Cabell County Family Court Judge Patricia Keller the Family Court matters.
All of Kanawha County’s circuit and family court judges recused themselves.
Plants’ ex-wife, Allison, was granted an emergency Domestic Violence Protective Order Thursday afternoon by a Kanawha County Family Court judge just hours after it was announced she had filed a complaint with State Police about alleged child abuse by Plants. She claims the prosecutor abused one of their children by disciplining him “in an excessive manner.”
Plants said he’s cooperating with State Police. No charges have been filed.