BECKLEY, W.Va. – Former Raleigh County Assistant Prosecutor, Tom Truman was sworn in to serve as the county’s new prosecuting attorney.
Truman was appointed to serve as the prosecuting attorney for Raleigh County last November after Ben Hatfield resigned in late October after alleged inappropriate conduct.
Truman served as the acting lead prosecutor for the remainder of Hatfield’s term which ended on Dec. 31.
Truman retired in 2022 but returned last fall to help in the prosecutor’s office.
“I was the happiest retiree I knew. It was something I needed to do,” said Truman.
Hatfield won re-election last November but said he would not accept the position if he won. Now, Truman will serve the next two years in that role until the next general election where a new candidate will be selected for the next four years.
“I was sworn in as an assistant prosecutor in 1981 and worked for four different elected prosecutors and I’ve stolen ideas from all of them that I hope to synthesize into the operation of the office,” said Truman.
Normally, prosecuting attorneys serve four year terms but since Truman was appointed and not voted in, he will only serve two years. That’s according to Raleigh County Administrator, Jay Quesenberry.
Truman also confirmed he will only be top prosecutor for the next two years.
Truman has more than 30 years of experience in the Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
“There’s just no questions about Tom Truman. His ability is over the top, his knowledge, his familiarity with the system, with the staff. He’s already doing a fabulous job and it totally made sense to keep him right here,” said Greg Duckworth, president, Raleigh County Commission.
The Raleigh County Commission had started its own investigation into allegations of misconduct against Hatfield but we’re told the commission’s investigation has been dropped as a result of Hatfield’s resignation.
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