WILLIAMSON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – LOOTPRESS has obtained a copy of a public letter in which Mingo County Prosecutor Duke Jewell is requesting a special prosecutor in a case involving the mother of Republican County Commissioner Thomas Taylor. We have confirmed through numerous sources that the letter is authentic.
It follows:
Titled, “Request FOR APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. Information provided by: Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney Jonathan ‘Duke’ Jewell, the case is identified as “Criminal Case Style and Number: WV Attorney General File # 21-Pi-46 [Chumley, Taylor & Canada, Taylor] in asking for the appointment of a special prosecutor, Jewell outlines the reasons for doing so.
“Pursuant to the WV Code, the Prosecuting Attorney is statutory counsel for the County Commission: A suspect / defendant herein, Judy Taylor, is the mother of a current County Commissioner. Further, Ms. Taylor is employed at the law firm of Ferrell & Brown, PLLC. Both Mr. Ferrell and Mr. Brown are Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys.” Brown is Nathan Brown, also a Democrat member of the state House of Delegates.
Specify the Rule of Professional Conduct and appearance of impropriety that are cited as reasons for seeking a special prosecutor, the letter continues.
The letter then says that a “completed criminal investigation shows State … crimes involved: False Swearing; Illegal Voting; Deceiving Voters are then listed, presumably blamed on Judy Taylor. It says no hearing in the matter has been set.
The investigating officer is listed as
Ua M. Palmer, Chief Investigator Office of the WV Attorney General and Kimberly S. Mason, Director Investigations, WV Secretary of State.
The letter is dated: 4-13-2022 and was prepared by Jewell.
Thomas Taylor was initially elected as a Democrat commissioner. He later switched to Republican, which is his current registration.
This is a developing story and will be updated as events warrant.