First on 59: Raleigh County Deputy charged with child abuse - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

First on 59: Raleigh County Deputy charged with child abuse

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59News has confirmed with the Raleigh County prosecuting attorney's office that one of Raleigh County Sheriff's deputies was on the wrong side of the judges bench.

Deputy Randy Burgess was in court on Wednesday Jan. 16th.  He was arraigned by Judge Kirkpatrick on a charge of felony child abuse.  This comes after an investigation by the state police.

A grand jury indicted Burgess. 59News sat down with Sheriff Steve Tanner, on Thursday to discuss the case.

"The public has to have complete confidence in our office," said Sheriff Tanner.  "They have to know we are beyond reproach and that we have to take every charge very, very seriously. So we won't turn a blind eye and we won't ignore something until there is a conviction.   We actually have to act before that."

Sheriff Tanner said Burgess has been suspended depending the outcome of the case.