EDITOR’S NOTE: WSAZ had the only report on the not guilty pleas yesterday. Attempts to reach Ms. Hatfield were not successful. This is the report issued this morning.
WAYNE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Former Fort Gay Mayor Joetta R. Hatfield and former Treasurer/Recorder Sheila K. Bowen were indicted by a Wayne County grand jury for allegedly embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funds, the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office said Monday.
The pair allegedly misdirected more than $370,000 of public funds during an eight-year period.
Hatfield and Bowen both pled not guilty in Wayne County Circuit Court Tuesday morning.
Both women are named in a nine-count indictment charging them with embezzlement, fraudulent schemes, conspiracy, falsifying accounts, and computer fraud.
The indictment alleges the activity happened from February 2017 through February 2025.
“Hatfield and Bowen used their positions to issue unauthorized vendor and payroll checks, overcompensate themselves for leave, withdraw cash, and adjust utility payments, all for personal benefit,” the release from the state Auditor’s Office stated. “Investigators estimate Hatfield embezzled approximately $245,000, while Bowen embezzled about $127,000.”
According to the release, both women “manipulated the town’s books and computer systems to hide their fraud and misrepresent the municipality’s financial condition. If convicted, they each face substantial prison time and restitution.”
Hatfield and Bowen’s pretrial dates are set for September 26 at 9 a.m. Their trials are set for October 6 at 9 a.m.
*****
It is not clear if Hatfield and Bowen will be tried together or who is representing the women at this time. We will keep working on the case especially what bank approved the expenditures.
