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Deal reached in Kanawha prosecutor’s case

Charleston Gazette photo by Chris Dorst Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Plants (center) and his wife, Sarah, speak with his attorney, Jim Cagle. If Plants completes a pre-trial diversion program, according to a deal reached Wednesday, two misdemeanor charges against him will be dropped.
Charleston Gazette photo by Chris Dorst
Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Plants (center) and his wife, Sarah, speak with his attorney, Jim Cagle. If Plants completes a pre-trial diversion program, according to a deal reached Wednesday, two misdemeanor charges against him will be dropped.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Plants will have two misdemeanor charges against him dropped if he completes a pre-trial diversion program, according to a deal reached by prosecutors and Plants’ lawyer Wednesday.

Plants is accused of domestic battery of his 11-year-old son and violating a domestic-violence protective order to stay away from his ex-wife and their children. Police say Plants struck his son with a leather belt, leaving a 6- to 7-inch bruise on the boy’s thigh.

Special prosecutor Sid Bell, assigned to handle the case by the West Virginia Supreme Court, said the charges against Plants would remain pending for a year. If Plants stays out of trouble for that year, the charges would be dropped.

As part of the deal, Plants won’t use corporal punishment as a way to discipline his children. He must stay away from his ex-wife, Allison Plants, and family court-ordered supervised visits with his sons will remain in effect.

The deal also required Plants to apologize in court Wednesday.

“I have no ill will toward my ex-wife for calling law enforcement,” Plants told the court Wednesday. “I do believe she contacted law enforcement in good faith.”

He added he thought the West Virginia State Police had conducted a thorough investigation, and, “in the end, I believe, the criminal justice system, while it does take time, does provide justice for all.”

Plants apologized to his family, especially his 11-year-old son…

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