Former DSS Head Sentenced

by Scotty Wampler
News Editor  
  Former Buchanan County Department of Social Services Director Jerry Wayne Snyder was sentenced to two years in prison last week in Circuit Court after pleading no contest and found guilty on one charge of embezzlement.
  Both years were suspended, and he was given two years probation.
  Per the terms of his plea agreement, two embezzlement indictments stemming from charges in 2002 alleging Snyder issued two DSS checks on his behalf to the Virginia Retirement System were merged into a single indictment last Wednesday.
  The indictments involved two checks in the amounts of $32,576.28 and $7,863.24 written on Snyder's behalf to purchase prior service time through the VRS system.
  The investigation, which began in August 2001, was conducted by the Virginia State Police.
  Snyder resigned as director of the agency earlier that month, citing no reason in a one-sentence letter. The resignation came on the same day the Mountaineer published a story regarding action by the county treasurer to report an alleged unauthorized use of public funds to the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts, the Virginia State Police and the Buchanan County Commonwealth Attorney stemming from the issuance of the two VRS checks.
  Snyder's resignation came on the heels of his announced decision to retire, and within days of questions being asked publicly about the two VRS checks.
  The monies were returned to the county by VRS after County Administrator W.J. Caudill and Treasurer Bill Keene explained the alleged circumstances surrounding the issuance of the checks and requested the VRS reimburse the county.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  To subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.

Courthouse Processing Fee Increased to $10

by Scotty Wampler
News Editor  
  An amended ordinance hiking the processing fee for criminal and traffic offenses in Buchanan County from $5 to $10 was approved recently by the Board of Supervisors.
  No comments were heard from a public hearing at the board's regular June meeting to receive feedback on the matter.
  The amended ordinance increased to $10 the fee assessed in criminal and traffic cases in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations and Circuit courts.
  The fee is assessed any time someone is convicted of a violation of any current statute or ordinance. The additional funds collected are expected to be applied toward courthouse security.
  Collection of the assessed fee is made by the clerk of court. The current fee of $5 will remain in effect through the end of June. The new $10 fee will begin to be assessed July 1.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  To subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.