The ongoing process of investigating possible ethics violations by Beckley Mayor Emmett Pugh moves forward in February.
Mayor Pugh is accused of receiving more than $12,000 worth of ownership interests in companies in exchange for providing city contracts and free use of city resources.
A public hearing on the subject was pushed back several times in 2012. Then, this year, Pugh's attorney was hired by another agency, so his new attorney was given time to review the case.
Now attorney for the West Virginia Ethics Commission are scheduled to sit down with Pugh's attorney for a status conference on Monday, Feb. 18. That meeting will be used to determine a date for the public hearing, which will be held in Beckley.
Pugh denies the allegations.
"I don't know how this will end up playing out but I think a lot of it has to go with how I feel about it and I am very content with my stance. What I have done, I do not feel I have done anything wrong," said Pugh during an April 2012 interview with 59News.
59News also spoke with community when the story first broke, and for the most part they were supportive of their Mayor.
"I hope that he didn't do his people wrong. Everybody that stood up for him and voted him into office," said Jurida Guffey, a resident of Beckley. "I hope they didn't choose the wrong path."
"My opinion is its what it is," added Beckley Business owner, Jim Parker. "I think Emmett has been a good mayor and I think you have to let the process move though and go from there."
Mayor Pugh told 59News he was happy to have that kind of emotional support from his constituents.
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