RICHWOOD, W.Va. — Arraignment is scheduled for Monday morning in Nicholas County Circuit Court for Chris Drennen, the former mayor of Richwood.
Drennen was indicted last month by a Nicholas County grand jury on three felony fraud charges, alleging she improperly profited from the town’s flood relief effort.
After an investigation spearheaded by the state Auditor’s Office, Drennen and two other Richwood officials were arrested March 29, 2019. Not much happened with the case, at least publicly, until the June indictment. Drennen denied any wrongdoing when she was first charged. She remained Richwood’s mayor until last week when new Mayor Gary Johnson was sworn into office.
Drennen’s arraignment is set for 9:30 a.m. A judge will read the charges against her and she’ll plead guilty or not guilty. If she says not guilty a trial date will be scheduled.