Shawn Turak, Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney, released the following statement:
MARSHALL COUNTY GRAND JURY RETURNED INDICTMENT AGAINST JAMES ROBERT MEADE, II
The Marshall County Grand Jury was convened on July 14, 2026. Specially appointed Prosecuting Attorney Shawn R Turak of Ohio County appeared and submitted the case against James Robert Meade, II.
The Marshall County Grand Jury returned a fourteen (14) count felony indictment against Meade, charging seven (7) counts of the felony offense of “Fraudulent Schemes” and seven (7) counts the felony offense of “Conspiracy”. The charges stem from the alleged sales of cars to the Marshall County Assessor’s Office wherein former Assessor Eric Buzzard is alleged to have received kickbacks from the fraudulently inflated prices.
Buzzard was convicted in 2025 for his part in the scheme.
Meade will appear before Judge Jeffrey Cramer on August 13, 2026, at 10 a.m. for arraignment, at which time a trial date may be set. All persons charged with a crime are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
