WHEELING -
WTRF.com UPDATE
Former Wheeling Police Officer, Matthew Kotson, appeared before Judge James Mazzone in Ohio County Circuit Court Wednesday morning.
The judge made no decision Wednesday, but said he would review both sides of the case.
City Solicitor, Rosemary Humley Warmuth, represented the City of Wheeling.
Kotson's attorney, Joe John, argued that the city did not follow code when terminating Kotson from his position late last year. John said City Manager Robert Herron made the decision to terminate Kotson without giving him the right to a pre-termination hearing, or enough notice.
Warmuth argued that the city did everything by the book, and that they were able to take punitive action to terminate Kotson for exigent circumstances, or an emergency situation requiring swift actions.
The city argues they had the right to fire Kotson for a violation of a traffic code when he drove a police cruiser without a license, even before any of the alleged sexual assault charges came about.
ORIGINAL STORY
Former Wheeling Police Officer, Matthew Kotson, will appeal the civil service commission's termination of his job from the department.
Kotson was let go from the department a day after charges were filed against him. Kotson is facing four counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, two counts of sexual assault in the second degree, and one count of burglary.
Jury selection for his trial begins Thursday for that case however; Kotson is in Judge James Mazzone's courtroom appealing his termination, which is a civil case, unrelated to the criminal case. Click here for information pertaining to the criminal case.
City solicitor, Rosemary Humley Warmuth, will represent the City of Wheeling.
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