The Times West Virginian

Local News

October 15, 2009

Former county employee pleads guilty to embezzlement

By Mallory Panuska

FAIRMONT — A former county employee charged with embezzling more than $9,100 from two county-run organizations has pleaded guilty to the felony charge.

On Sept. 30, Diana Jill Cosco entered the plea before Marion Judge David R. Janes, who delivered a suspended sentence of one to 10 years in jail and placed her on three years probation.

Cosco was employed as an administrative assistant for the county commission until she was charged with forging County Administrator Kris Cinalli’s name on a $932 check from the Marion County Development Authority without his knowledge in August 2008.

Cinalli, who was the county office manager at the time, controlled the county’s finances, which included the checkbooks for the MCDA and other county-run organizations.

Cosco was formally charged with and pleaded guilty to embezzling the $932 from the MCDA and $8,200.38 from the Greater Marion Public Service District, according to court records. She was ordered to pay full restitution for both offenses to the organizations before she was sentenced.

Cosco was represented in court by attorney Charles E. Anderson, and the state was represented by a special prosecutor from Harrison County. According to court documents, Cosco wished to apologized to Cinalli and the county commissioners and asked the state to pass her apology along.

E-mail Mallory Panuska at mpanuska@timeswv.com.

Text Only
Local News
  • Marion co 911--DS.jpg It’s an emergency

    A Dalmatian was on a mission. And he was in a hurry.
    In a fire truck, the Dalmatian, Patches, rushed into Monongah Elementary on Tuesday morning while students looked on in amusement.

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • MCVB and MCPARC OPENING -TS.jpg CVB, MCPARC moving to new homes

    The Convention & Visitors Bureau of Marion County and the Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission are excited to have a new place to call home.
    On Monday, both organizations began simultaneously moving into their new offices in the visitor center building directly off Interstate 79 Exit 136 at 1000 Cole St., Pleasant Valley.

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • Ministers Run still looking for local control

    Following two meetings in different locations Tuesday, the Ministers Run Water Association is still looking for a way to keep its utility in local hands.
    Last week, the state Public Service Commission held a hearing in Grant Town.

    February 8, 2012

  • Man indicted for forgery, uttering, other crimes

    A Fairmont man charged with forgery, uttering and other crimes is one of 23 people named in indictments handed down by the Marion County Grand Jury in its second day of deliberations Tuesday.
    Jeremy Nathan Ferraro, 31, Fairmont, was indicted on forgery; uttering; obtaining money, property or services by false pretenses; and domestic battery, third offense.

    February 8, 2012

  • White Hall students find there’s ‘purpose’ with writing

    Picking up a pen and being inspired to write didn’t come from within for author and poet Anna Smucker.
    Not until she met an author as a child did she begin to realize which career path best suited her and her interests.
    “I thought authors lived in New York or Hollywood, drove around in Cadillacs,” Smucker said.

    February 8, 2012

  • Former halfway house director sentenced to five months in prison

    The former director of a local federally contracted halfway house will serve time in prison for an inappropriate relationship with an inmate.
    Carrie L. Cockrell, 36, of Clarksburg, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Clarksburg by Judge Irene M. Keeley to five months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release.

    February 8, 2012

  • Murray urges BOE members get pay for mandated training, raise for meetings

    Marion County Board of Education member Mary “Sis” Murray recently encouraged lawmakers to grant school board members pay for mandated training and a raise for meetings.
    Murray serves as president of the West Virginia School Board Association, which she said is made up of 275 school board members across the state.

    February 8, 2012

  • Quiet Dell ‘Close-knit community’

    Kids today. Two words are all it takes to bring to mind a familiar refrain commonly associated with old-timers and walking uphill in the snow with the wolves nipping at your heels.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • Man who led police in high-speed chase indicted

    The man who led area law enforcement units in a high-speed chase from Marion to Harrison County in November 2011 is one of 20 people named in indictments returned Monday by a Marion County Grand Jury in Judge David Janes’ courtroom.

    February 7, 2012

  • BOE votes against job change for Neptune

    The Marion County Board of Education voted against hiring Andrew Neptune as an administrative assistant during its meeting Monday night.

    February 7, 2012