The former chief of the Moundsville Fire Department is facing one child pornography-related charge, according to the West Virginia Magistrate database.

Gary Brandon, 48, faces one count of distribution or exhibition of a visual portrayal of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct or computer-generated pornography, according to the database. He appeared in Marshall County Magistrate Court on June 12, where he pleaded not guilty. He posted 10% of his $25,000 bond and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 25.

Brandon was fired April 24, Moundsville City Manager Rick Healy said in May, as investigations were ongoing involving both the Moundsville City and West Virginia State police.

Former Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Kimple was named acting chief for the department, Healy said, adding that no further comments would be made by the city at that time.

Brandon was sworn in as Moundsville fire chief in June 2018 after serving as acting fire chief since November 2017. He had risen to the job after longtime fire chief Noel Clarke died of cancer and former assistant chief Ron Walker was dismissed. Kimple was sworn in that same day as assistant chief.

Return to theintelligencer.net later for more on this developing story.