TAZEWELL, Va. – Ann Marie Burks, the former director of the Teen Venture Center in Richlands who faced several charges related to the closure of the facility in April, has paid restitution and the case has concluded.
“Her case is done,” said Maj. Harold Heatley with the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office. “The money ($2,700) has been returned.”
Burks pled guilty last month to obstruction of justice, a misdemeanor, in Tazewell County Circuit Court, Heatley said, and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, which were suspended. She had already served seven days in jail, had to pay court costs and will be on probation for one year.
Heatley, who led the investigation, said she also had to complete 100 hours of community service and has now paid the restitution.
Burks was also initially charged in July with two counts of Distribution of a Schedule I/II Narcotic, two counts of Forgery, one count of Conspiracy, one count of Receiving Money/Property by False Pretenses and one count of Misdemeanor Receiving Money/Property by False Pretense.
However, in Tazewell County Circuit Court on Nov. 19 those charges were concluded by nolle prosequi, which means they were dismissed by the court.
The facility was closed after Burks left in April and an investigation started.
Teen Venture has since hired a new director and reopened, providing teens an after-school opportunity for learning and to participate in many activities.
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