Jefferson County sheriff facing civil rights charges resigns - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, Weather

Jefferson County sheriff facing civil rights charges resigns

Posted: Updated:
  • Local News

  • Saturday, May 25 2013 8:06 PM EDT2013-05-26 00:06:00 GMT
    With pools finally opening up and temperatures usually rising, Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer. But you wouldn't have known judging by how empty local pools were Saturday, when temperatures
    With pools finally opening up and temperatures usually rising, Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer. But you wouldn't have known judging by how empty local pools were Saturday, when temperatures lingered in the 60s.
  • Saturday, May 25 2013 7:31 PM EDT2013-05-25 23:31:15 GMT
    The Opekiska Lock and Dam has reopened for recreational use. The dam was closed in 2012 because of cost issues but has reopened for recreational boating. Opekiska finished construction and was officially
    The Opekiska Lock and Dam has reopened for recreational use. The dam was closed in 2012 because of cost issues but has reopened for recreational boating. Opekiska finished construction and was officially
  • Saturday, May 25 2013 6:45 PM EDT2013-05-25 22:45:53 GMT
    People from all over the United States came to participate in the Chopping.
    People from all over the United States came to participate in the Chopping.
CHARLES TOWN (AP) -

An Eastern Panhandle sheriff facing civil rights charges has resigned.

Jefferson County Commissioner Patsy Noland told media outlets that Sheriff Robert E. Shirley gave her a handwritten resignation letter Friday evening.

Shirley is accused of beating a bank robbery suspect in December 2010.

He pleaded not guilty last June following his indictment.

Court documents show that a change of plea hearing is set for Monday before a federal magistrate in Martinsburg.

According to court documents, Shirley agreed to take a leave of absence and be placed on home detention while the case is pending.

Shirley's lawyer, Kevin D. Mills, told The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown, Md., that recently disclosed evidence compelled his client to reassess his decision to contest the charges. He said he couldn't comment further.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.