There were whispers before there were headlines, and this story is still considered “ongoing” because the former assessor of Marshall County has not yet been sentenced.
But Eric Buzzard will face penalties after he entered guilty pleas to three felony counts: embezzlement, conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit grand larceny. In court, Buzzard admitted to using county “Purchase Cards” for personal expenses, including visits to local bars, stores, and restaurants.
The West Virginia State Purchasing Card Program, according to the state Auditor’s Office website, was implemented in 1996, addressing the need for a process that would create more accountability for purchases, improve relations with vendors and save the State millions through cost avoidance.
The state Auditor’s Office played a significant role in the investigator inside Buzzard’s illegal activity, and a special prosecutor from Ohio County – Shawn Turak – was assigned to the case. According to local media outlets, Buzzard also confessed to conspiring with James Meade, a local car dealer, in a kickback scheme involving county funds.
In all, investigators determined Buzzard acquired an approximate personal gain of $117,841.23.
Buzzard resigned from the elected position and Amanda Lockhart, a veteran member of Marshall County’s Assessor’s Office, was appointed to the position earlier this month.
