CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Separate federal court hearings are scheduled for the same time Thursday in Charleston for a current member and former member of the embattled West Virginia Supreme Court.
Former Justice Menis Ketchum, 75, is scheduled to plead guilty before U.S. District John Copenhaver to one count of wire fraud.
Ketchum entered a federal information agreement with U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart who has been investigating spending by the Supreme Court.
Ketchum will admit to using a state-owned vehicle and state-issued fuel card for personal use.
The hearing begins at 11 a.m. in the Byrd Federal Courthouse. That’s the same time that suspended Justice Allen Loughry, 48, is scheduled to appear before federal Magistrate Judge Dwane Tinsley for an arraignment on a 25th federal criminal charge.
Thursday’s hearing will mark Loughry’s third arraignment since his June 19 indictment on various fraud counts and allegations that he lied to federal investigators about court spending and use of state property.
Loughry’s original indictment was for 22-counts, a superseding indictment added two additional counts and a second superseding indictment last week added the 25 count. Loughry has pleaded not guilty during each arraignment.
Loughry, along with Supreme Court Chief Justice Margaret Workman and Justice Beth Walker have all been impeached by the House of Delegates. The state Senate meets Sept. 11 to begin pre-trial activities. The House also impeached Robin Davis who submitted her retirement letter to the governor the same night last week she was impeached.
The High Court has pushed back the beginning of its fall term to Oct. 2.