LEWISBURG, W.Va. — The Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Office has issued a statement in regard to the actions of a former deputy.
Christopher Bennett, a former Greenbrier County Deputy, pleaded guilty January 3rd to charges of first degree sexual abuse. His plea ends a year-long criminal investigation by the West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
Soon after the allegations surfaced in December 2023, Bennett was placed on administrative leave. The Sheriff’s Department launched an internal investigation and in December 2024, Bennett resigned his position just days before his guilty plea.
The Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department issued the following statement:
“The actions of Christopher W. Bennett are reprehensible and do not reflect the values of the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s office or the the dedicated deputies who serve the community with honor and professionalism every day. We will not tolerate that behavior in Greenbrier County. Our thoughts remain with the victim and their family and we extend our deepest sympathies during this difficult time. The safety and well being of our citizens are our utmost priority and we remain committed to ensuring accountability at all levels.”
Officials in the department say they have also initiated a complete review of the department’s policies and procedures to insure future incidents such as this one do not happen. Additional training is expected to be added to the department’s guidelines to reinforce ethical standards among all Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department personnel.