The assessor in Marshall County will appear again in court today in Marshall County at 1:30 p.m. for the first time since it was alleged he violated a “no contact” order when he reportedly reached out to several county employees.
Embezzlement charges were filed against Eric Buzzard earlier this year, alleging he conducted schemes that amounted to about $117,000, according to court records. In September, the Marshall County Commission submitted the petition for Buzzard’s removal.
Buzzard faces seven felony counts of fraud, and investigators said in June that the state’s probe would continue and that more charges are possible. At this time, the elected official is accused of operating a scheme involving a local auto dealership and a number of vehicle purchases, according to the press release distributed on June 13 by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.
The State Auditor’s Office Fraud Unit began investigating the case after receiving a tip about questionable expenditures from the Property Valuation Commission (PVC) Account, a fund primarily used for purchasing vehicles for the Assessor’s Office. The report states Buzzard had access to the account during the entire period in question.
During a bond modification hearing in West Virginia, a defendant – or their attorney – usually makes a formal request that a judge change the terms of their bail or bond conditions. In this case, Buzzard’s attorney, William Ihlenfeld, has filed a motion that, if granted, would allow the elected official to resume performing his duties as Assessor.
Buzzard, a resident of Moundsville, was elected in 2021 and re-elected in 2024.
