| Former Calhoun chief deputy Ron Bandy pled not guilty yesterday during an arraignment before Judge Thomas Evans III in Grantsville.
Bandy was indicted on eight counts by a Calhoun grand jury.
Special prosecutor Gerald Hough brought the charges after an investigation by the West Virginia State Police: one count of grand larceny, three counts of burglary, three counts of conspiracy, all felonies, and one misdemeanor count for destruction of property.
Bandy resigned from the Sheriff's Department in June, 2006, after prosecutor Matt Minney filed charges against the officer for contempt of court after he failed to appear at hearings.
The case is related to the alleged taking of property, reportedly at least one gun, belonging to an elderly Big Springs couple who were unable to take care of themselves, having been placed in Department of Human Services Custody.
He was represented by attorney John Teare, Jr.
Also charged in the incident is Grantsville resident April McCroskey, who was reportedly dating deputy Bandy at the time the alleged crime occurred.
McCroskey, represented by Parkersburg attorney George Cosenza, pled not guilty to eight counts: one count of grand larceny, three counts of burglary, 3 counts of conspiracy, all felonies, and one misdemeanor count for destruction of property.
Bandy was first hired as a deputy sheriff in 2001 by former Sheriff Allen Parsons. He was appointed Chief Deputy by Sheriff Carl Ballengee when he was elected.
| 
