CHARLESTON - Pleasants County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Carr and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Marteney were charged by state investigators for their part in dismissing serious charges for monetary donations to a Christmas gift program.
The Investigative Panel of the West Virginia Lawyer Disciplinary Board charged Carr Oct. 15 with 20 counts of multiple violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct, the Bible for lawyers in the state, as well as violations of state code.
Marteney, Carr's law firm partner and an assistant prosecutor in Pleasants County since 2011, was charged Oct. 15 with five counts of violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct for participating in what has since been called "SantaGate," as well as two unrelated charges.
SantaGate refers to the Slow Down for the Holiday's program operated by the St. Marys Police Department. The program began 13 years ago when Carr was a municipal judge.