Police academy whistleblower facing domestic violence charges
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HARRISVILLE -- The man identified as the whistleblower in allegations including a hidden camera in the women's locker room at the West Virginia State Police Academy and alleged destruction of evidence was indicted this week by a Ritchie County grand jury on domestic violence charges.
Joseph M. Comer, 40, Ravenswood, was one of 13 people indicted this session, according to a release from the Ritchie County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. He faces charges of strangulation and domestic battery from December and one count of violation of a protective order from June.
Comer was arrested in February on the strangulation and domestic battery charges and released on a $30,000 bond. He was placed on administrative leave Feb. 23, according to the State Police.
A warrant was issued for his arrest in September for a bond violation and Comer turned himself in at the Parkersburg Police Department, a release from the State Police said. On Sept. 12, the State Police filed a notice of intent to terminate his employment.
Comer remains in custody, without bond, at the North Central Regional Jail in Doddridge County.
In April, Comer said in an interview with WSAZ in Charleston that he provided the information revealed in anonymous letters outlining allegations regarding the cameras, improper use of state purchasing cards, misuse of federal grants, overtime abuse and more. The letters prompted an investigation by then-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeff Sandy that led to the resignation of State Police Superintendent Jan Cahill.
Also indicted this week in Ritchie County were:
* Benjamin L. Botkins, 35, Middlebourne; child neglect creating risk of injury, domestic assault and possession of a controlled substance; from August.
* Cassandra R. Buser, 32, 413 East Eighth St., Parkersburg, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, driving while license suspended, speeding and two counts of possession of a controlled substance; February.
* Jason R. Dalton, 48, 811 Moats Road, Ellenboro; second-offense possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and person prohibited from possessing firearms; June.
* Robert B. Drain, 52, 809 Edgelawn St., Parkersburg; grand larceny and third-offense driving while license revoked for driving under the influence of alcohol; April.
* Amanda L. Marks, 52, 5061 Holbrook Road, West Union; two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; September.
* Michael G. Moersen, 53, Harrisville; strangulation and third-offense domestic battery; May.
* Gary A. Richards Jr., 35, 91 Jenkins Drive, Petroleum; destruction of property; August.
* Brandon M. Smith, 36, 13 Joyce Drive, Parkersburg; third-offense driving while license revoked for DUI; May.
* Gary W. Smith, 57, 1022 May Ridge Road, Ellenboro; nine counts each of forgery and uttering; November 2021 to July 2022.
* Timothy R. Starcher, 34, 717 Riverview Drive, Apt. 502, Belmont; fleeing from an officer in a vehicle with reckless indifference, fleeing from an officer in a vehicle while DUI, DUI, driving while license suspended and no insurance; May.
* James M. Taylor, 58, 5 Water St., Harrisville; second-offense failure to provide notice of registration changes; September.
* Jesse D. Wilson, 43, 8422 Glendale Road, Cairo; wanton endangerment involving a firearm and domestic assault; April.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.