Jerry Mezzatesta
Encyclopedia
Jerry Mezzatesta is an American
politician in the U.S. state
of West Virginia
. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Mezzatesta was the West Virginia House of Delegates
member from the 50th District which represents Mineral County
and Hampshire County
in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle
. The Charleston Gazette called him "one of West Virginia's most powerful politicians".
In 2004, Jerry Mezzatesta and his wife, Mary Lou, pleaded no contest
to a misdemeanor charge that they altered and destroyed legislative computer records. Mezzatesta lost his re-election bid that same year to Ruth Rowan
. In April 2005, he was fired from his $60,000-a-year job with the Hampshire County Board of Education
. In 2005, the West Virginia Ethics Commission found that Mezzatesta had violated an agreement to not use his legislative position to solicit funds for the county's school system. They subsequently fined him $2000. In September 2006, a federal grand jury indicted him and former Hampshire County Schools Superintendent David Friend on two counts of fraud and misappropriation of funds.
However, on March 30, 2007, Mezzatesta and Friend were found not guilty, and on April 23, 2009, Judge C. Reeves Taylor ruled that Mezzatesta should get his job back in the Hampshire County school system. Clearing him of the alleged ethics violations, Judge Taylor wrote that "from the record there was no agreement between the Ethics Commission and Mezzatesta at the time held the position (as a school board employee), merely a request made by him to the commission and an advisory opinion made by (the Ethics Commission) and conveyed to (Mezzatesta)." The school board paid Mezztesta a $192,00 settlement instead of rehiring him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Mezzatesta was the West Virginia House of Delegates
West Virginia House of Delegates
The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates.-Historical:-Current:-District organization:...
member from the 50th District which represents Mineral County
Mineral County, West Virginia
Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 28,212. Its county seat is Keyser.-Ancient history:...
and Hampshire County
Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,964. Its county seat is Romney, West Virginia's oldest town . Hampshire County was created by the Virginia General Assembly on December 13, 1753, from parts of Frederick and Augusta counties ...
in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle
Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
The Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia is a narrow stretch of territory in the northeast of the state, bordering Maryland and Virginia, United States. The Eastern Panhandle Board of Realtors and other local civic organizations consider only the three Easternmost counties, Jefferson, Berkeley and...
. The Charleston Gazette called him "one of West Virginia's most powerful politicians".
In 2004, Jerry Mezzatesta and his wife, Mary Lou, pleaded no contest
Nolo contendere
is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I do not wish to contend." It is also referred to as a plea of no contest.In criminal trials, and in some common law jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of...
to a misdemeanor charge that they altered and destroyed legislative computer records. Mezzatesta lost his re-election bid that same year to Ruth Rowan
Ruth Rowan
Ruth Rowan is an American politician from the U.S. state of West Virginia. She is a member of the Republican Party and is currently the West Virginia House of Delegates member from the 50th District, which represents Mineral County and Hampshire County in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle...
. In April 2005, he was fired from his $60,000-a-year job with the Hampshire County Board of Education
Hampshire County Schools
Hampshire County Schools is the operating school district within Hampshire County, West Virginia. It is governed by the Hampshire County Board of Education.-High schools:Serves grades 9-12*Hampshire High School , Romney-Middle schools:Serves grades 6-8...
. In 2005, the West Virginia Ethics Commission found that Mezzatesta had violated an agreement to not use his legislative position to solicit funds for the county's school system. They subsequently fined him $2000. In September 2006, a federal grand jury indicted him and former Hampshire County Schools Superintendent David Friend on two counts of fraud and misappropriation of funds.
However, on March 30, 2007, Mezzatesta and Friend were found not guilty, and on April 23, 2009, Judge C. Reeves Taylor ruled that Mezzatesta should get his job back in the Hampshire County school system. Clearing him of the alleged ethics violations, Judge Taylor wrote that "from the record there was no agreement between the Ethics Commission and Mezzatesta at the time held the position (as a school board employee), merely a request made by him to the commission and an advisory opinion made by (the Ethics Commission) and conveyed to (Mezzatesta)." The school board paid Mezztesta a $192,00 settlement instead of rehiring him.