ERIC BUZZARD

MOUNDSVILLE — Marshall County Assessor Eric Bryan Buzzard was arrested Friday on multiple charges of partnering with a local car dealer to purchase cars for the Marshall County Commission, then receiving more than $30,000 in kickbacks from padded prices.

Since the time Buzzard took office in January 2021, he and the dealer collectively split a profit of $63,157 following the county’s purchase of automobiles — with a $31,578 kickback resulting for each, according to a criminal complaint filed by the West Virginia State Police with the Marshall County Magistrate’s Office.

Buzzard, 41, of Moundsville, has been charged with seven felony counts of fraudulent schemes, the complaint states. The name of the car dealer was not named in the complaint, but the business was listed as being in Marshall County.

Buzzard, pleaded not guilty on Friday to the charges before Magistrate Tom Wood, and was released after posting a $50,000 personal recognizance bond.

A preliminary hearing is set for 2 p.m. June 23 before Judge Zachary Allman. Prosecution of the case will be handled by the Ohio County Prosecutor’s Office.

The complaint states the West Virginia State Police was first made aware of allegations of possible financial criminal acts by Buzzard on Dec. 30, 2024. He had just been re-elected to his second term in office on Nov. 5, 2024.

Questions arose through Buzzard’s use of the Assessor’s Property Valuation Commission (PVC) Account, an account utilized largely for the purchase of vehicles.

The West Virginia Auditor’s Office conducted a general audit of the Marshall County Assessor’s Office after “multiple questionable expenditures had been revealed.”

An investigation by the State Auditor’s Office Fraud Department followed. It found, according to the complaint, that Buzzard had made multiple purchases of vehicles on behalf of the county through a local dealership owner.

According to the report, the dealer told police Buzzard directed him to buy the cars at a cheaper price from other dealerships. The dealer would allegedly then sell the cars to Marshall County at a marked-up price, with the dealer and Buzzard agreeing to split the profit.

The dealer admitted to writing checks for half the amount to Buzzard as “a kickback,” the complaint stated.

Transactions being questioned included the following:

– A 2022 Ford Edge bought for $42,162 from Shults Ford was resold to Marshall County for $46,599.20, a markup of $4,436.

– A 2022 Ford Edge bought priced at $40,352.50 from Shults Ford was resold to the county for $45,751 for a difference of $5,398.

– A 2022 Ford Ranger bought for $43,117 from Shults Ford was resold to the county for $46,811, representing an increase of $3,693.

– A 2023 Ford Edge bought from Donnel Ford & Lincoln for $39,740 was resold to the county for $46,599, resulting in a markup of $6,859.

– A 2024 Ford Edge bought from Boardman Ford for $34,620 was resold to the county for $49,342 – an increase of $14,722.

– A 2024 Ford Escape bought from Boardman Ford for $30,620 was resold to the county for $42,422, equalling a markup of $11,802.

– A 2023 Chevrolet Silverado bought from Power GM for $47,525.00 was resold to the county for $63,770.00, the difference being $16,245.

Ohio County Prosecutor Shawn Turak said she will “definitely be involved in the case” alongside other assistant prosecutors in her office.

“Everybody is entitled to a preliminary hearing during which evidence is presented,” she said.

In addition, everybody is presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law, Turak added.

A phone number listed for Buzzard on the criminal complaint, when called on Friday afternoon, was no longer in service.

The Marshall County Commission has retained Wheeling attorney Don Tennant, and is referring all comment on the case to him. Tennant, who also serves as solicitor for the Ohio County Commission, didn’t immediately return calls on Friday.