CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After pleading guilty to a federal wire charge count last August, former state Supreme Court Justice Menis Ketchum will be sentenced Wednesday afternoon.
The sentencing, which has been delayed multiple times, will take place before U.S. District Judge John Copenhaver at the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse in Charleston. It’s scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.
Instead of going to trial, Ketchum, 76, pleaded guilty to one wire fraud count on Aug. 23, the same day his former court colleague, former state Supreme Court Justice Allen Loughry, pleaded not guilty to two-dozen federal counts. Loughry was convicted in October on 11 of 21 federal criminal counts. He was sentenced last month to spend two years in federal prison.
Ketchum admitted to using a state-owned vehicle and a state-issued gas card for personal use including golf trips to Virginia.
He agreed to pay back the state $700.00.
Ketchum resigned from the Court last summer before the House of Delegates started impeachment proceedings. He lost his license to practice law last October.
In pre-sentencing filings, Ketchum’s lawyer have asked that he be placed on probation. Federal prosecutors said federal sentencing guidelines should be followed which would include a six to 12 month prison sentence and a fine.