Charleston Officer Files Lawsuit Against City, Mayor for "Damaging Reputation"
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Updated: 12:16 PM May 26, 2010
Charleston Officer Files Lawsuit Against City, Mayor for "Damaging Reputation"
A Charleston Police Officer acquitted of two fraud-related charges is now suing Charleston and Mayor Danny Jones.
Posted: 9:34 AM May 23, 2009
Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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UPDATE 5/26/10 @ 12:10 p.m.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A Charleston Police Officer acquitted of two fraud-related charges is now suing Charleston and Mayor Danny Jones.

Keith Peoples filed the lawsuit last week in Kanawha County Circuit court, claiming the charges that stemmed from an investigation launched by Jones in December 2006 damaged his reputation.

A jury found Peoples not guilty last May of working a security job at the Charleston Town Center Mall while he was on duty for the city. A circuit court judge also threw out a related charge of computer fraud.

Jones has said the prosecutor's office was responsible for prosecuting Peoples, not the city.

"You're talking about an individual that didn't testify at his own trial, now he has to testify so we look forward to a rigorous video tape deposition," Jones said.



UPDATE: Friday, May 22 @ 10:30 p.m.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A jury has found former Charleston Police Officer Keith Peoples not guilty of fraudulent schemes.

The jury deliberated for more than eight hours.

Peoples was on trial for allegedly double dipping. He was accused of working security at the Charleston Town Center while he was still on the clock for the city.

Mayor Danny Jones and Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster say they expect Peoples back on the job at the earliest opportunity. They also say they trust this puts an end to the investigation of double dipping within the Charleston Police Department.

The double dipping investigations kicked off back in 2006 when a total of four officers either were found guilty or pleaded guilty to double dipping.



UPDATE: Friday, May 22 @ 10:30am
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The fate of a Charleston Police Officer will soon be in the hands of a jury.

The defense rested Friday morning in the trial against Keith Peoples.

Kanawha County Prosecutors say Peoples was clocking hours at the police department and working private security jobs -- both at the same time.

Closing arguments are expected to get underway in the next hour.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the very latest information.



UPDATE: Thursday, May 21 @ 11:00am
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The defense just called its first witness to the stand in the case against Charleston Police officer Keith Peoples.

Kanawha County Prosecutors say Peoples was clocking hours at the police department and working private security jobs -- both at the same time.

The trial started on Monday.

Right now, Dallas Staples is on the stand testifying on Peoples' behalf. He is a former Charleston Police chief.

Before the defense started its case, Judge James Stucky dropped the computer fraud charges against Peoples. Stucky told the court prosecutors didn't present enough evidence to get a conviction on that particular charge.

Peoples still faces other charges.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the very latest information.



UPDATE: Tuesday, May 19 @ 12:00pm
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Prosecutors started calling witnesses to the stand Tuesday morning in the case against Keith Peoples.

Kanawha County Prosecutors say Peoples was clocking hours at the police department and working private security jobs -- both at the same time.

Officer Peoples is charged with computer fraud and obtaining by fraudulent scheme.

His trial is expected to continue through Friday.



ORIGINAL STORY
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The trial started Monday for a Charleston Police officer accused of what's called "double dipping."

Kanawha County Prosecutors say Keith Peoples was clocking hours at the police department and working private security jobs -- both at the same time.

Jury selection wrapped up late in the afternoon and opening arguments started around four o'clock.

Officer Peoples is charged with computer fraud and obtaining by fraudulent scheme. The former Charleston officer of the year says he is not guilty.

Peoples is the latest in a short list of Charleston officers accused of double dipping. Prosecutors have been down this road with other officers before... and won.

"There are times he was scheduled to work during his shift at the police department, yet he clocked in at the mall first and then went on duty and was clocked in both places at once," said Kanawha County Assistant Prosecutor Scott Reynolds.

"Keith Peoples is here today to dispute those charges. As we go forward, there's two terms that I want you to remember: burden of proof and intent," said Dwane Tinsley, Peoples' attorney.

Tinsley says the prosecution will have to prove that officer Peoples' knowingly committed a crime, but the ultimate decision will be up to the jury.

None of the officers accused of double-dipping served jail time. They were given probation and ordered to pay back the money they earned from the city.

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Latest Comments

Posted by: Gary on May 26, 2009 at 06:20 PM

Keith Peoples was found not guilty of his charges. You said you had several email messages in his support. But yet, you chose to pick an email from a person with a personal axe to grind with this officer over a speeding ticket he received. It seems with channel 3 if you can't find something a little degrading to say about this case, you won't say anything. You make this quite a habit. Why don't you try taking a story with a good result and letting it go at that. Keith Peoples is a good man and an excellent police officer.
Posted by: Anon on May 26, 2009 at 11:52 AM

It's AEP's fault!!! They're getting blamed for everything else, why not this too?!
Posted by: Rich on May 26, 2009 at 03:19 AM

Keith I am glad that you were found not guilty but you know what you did was wrong
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