No Criminal Charges in Ravenswood PEIA Probe, Prosecutor Says; Mayor Says It's 'Time to Move Forward'

After more than a year of questions hanging over city hall in Ravenswood, the Jackson County river town finally has an answer: no criminal charges, at least for now, in the state's investigation into how some city officials came to have health coverage through the Public Employees Insurance Agency, better known around here as PEIA.

The Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, which took the case over as a special prosecutor after the Jackson County prosecutor's office stepped aside, has declined to pursue charges "at this time." That decision is spelled out in a letter dated Sept. 23, signed by First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Adam C. Petry on behalf of Prosecuting Attorney Debra L. Rusnak, and addressed to Rick Eplin, director of the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations.

The letter says the prosecutor's office reviewed the evidence and that, "having spoken to the victim agency and its attorney, the State of West Virginia hereby declines to pursue criminal charges in this matter at this time." It does not say why the office made that call, and it does not name any individual official.

Mayor: "This chapter has finally come to an end"

Ravenswood Mayor Joshua Miller made the news public Monday in a statement to the community. He said both the PEIA investigation and a separate review involving mayoral expense reports have concluded in his favor. The prosecutor's letter itself does not mention expense reports.

Miller said he and his family have "endured one of the most difficult and trying periods of our lives" over the past year and a half.

"Today, I am relieved to say that this chapter has finally come to an end, with the investigations concluding exactly as I said they would," he said.

The mayor said residents have every right to question their government, but drew a line between oversight and what he called personal attacks. "There is an enormous difference between legitimate oversight and accountability and the deliberate use of baseless accusations, misinformation, and false allegations to damage someone's reputation, destroy their character, and inflict hardship upon their family," Miller said. "Accountability should never be weaponized as a means of carrying out personal vendettas."

He did not name anyone in his statement. "Now, it is time to move forward," he said.

How we got here

Investigators had been looking at who received PEIA coverage through the city since 2023 compared with who was actually entitled to it. At a city council meeting when the special prosecutor was brought in, Ravenswood police said they had spent 360 hours on the case and interviewed 15 people.

The wider probe into city spending and insurance benefits did lead to charges against one person. Former city clerk Kimberly Benson was indicted on 13 felony counts of computer fraud and one count of embezzlement, and city council voted to remove her from her position after her arrest. Those charges are allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

For the folks of Ravenswood, Monday's news closes one long, uncomfortable chapter for the people running their city. Whether it settles every question in town is another matter, but the official word from the prosecutor's office is clear for now: no charges in the PEIA probe.