CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The Harrison County Commission accepted the recommendation from County Administrator Willie Parker to terminate the employment of a Day Report Center employee whose husband is facing drug charges.
Mariah Bellotte was not present at the Harrison County Commission’s regularly scheduled meeting Thursday morning and did not contest the termination, which is effective September 24.
“The recommendation comes from our County Administrator,” Commission President Ron Watson said. “Upon his recommendation, he felt that it was justifiable in termination of an employee.”
On September 9, the Greater Harrison Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force raided a home at 128 Meigs Avenue in Clarksburg and seized heroin and prescription narcotics from the home. Bellotte and husband Cory Syslo are the home’s listed occupants.
“I made the recommendation to the Commission to discharge the employee,” Parker said. “I thought it was best for the overall operations of our day report center and community corrections program. I can’t go into the details or the specifics.”
Bellotte is not facing any charges, but Syslo already had a prior conviction for stealing prescription drugs out of a Harrison County home.
Parker said the matter was a conflict of interest, but wouldn’t elaborate beyond that.
“Distraction and negative attribute for our Day Report center,” Parker said. “For the overall good of the program, it was a recommendation I felt I had to make. It wasn’t one I necessarily wanted to make, but felt I had to make to the Commission.”
Syslo, 26, faces accusations of delivering the “jungle killer” heroin to a Harrison County man who overdosed and had to be revived by narcan.
He is officially charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin and conspiracy to commit that crime.
Syslo’s sister, Taylor Syslo, 23, of Fairmont, also faces drug distribution charges in Marion County in connection to recent overdoses.
Fairmont Police believe she sold lethal heroin that led to more than one overdose and an overdose death last week in White Hall.