CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Ethics Commission publicly reprimanded Raleigh County Assessor Drema Bias Evans and levied a $7,500 fine Thursday for her violations of the state ethics act involving the hiring of two relatives.
The commission approved a settlement agreement that prohibits Evans from dealing with relatives who work for her and requires her to undergo more ethics training.
Evans was originally named in four separate charges alleging she violated the state ethics act when she hired her son and grandson. The investigation found she paid her relatives more than some other employees.
The original complaint was filed in February 2012 and a settlement was reached before a scheduled public hearing. The ethics panel signed off on it Thursday. It includes a $7,500 fine.
Evans has been Raleigh County’s assessor since 1989.
Ethics Commission executive director Rebecca Stepto said the case should send a reminder “to be certain that public officials are not using their offices for their own private gain or any non-public purpose.”
Evans also violated the ethics act when she allowed her employees to use a county-owned vehicle to travel from Beckley to Charleston to deliver Christmas items to children.
“While it was a good purpose in helping children, it was using county-owned vehicles for a private purpose,” Stepto said.
Evans’ son and grandson still work for her but the settlement said she can no longer have any dealings with them when it comes to their employment or pay.