Harrison County magistrate retires following assault accusations

CLARKSBURG - A Harrison County magistrate judge has retired after being accused of assaulting an office assistant.

Magistrate Brenda Anselene retired as part of an agreement to resolve the charge, her attorney told the Associated Press. She was arrested in September on the charge of battery.

The Associated Press reported that Anselene allegedly yelled at an office assistant, grabbed the woman and pushed her into a chair, then shook papers in her face and screamed at her, at the Harrison County Courthouse.

Anselene's attorney, William Wilmoth, said the battery charge will be dropped as part of an agreement, which also ends an administrative proceeding in the state Supreme Court.

Anselene has maintained her innocence, and gave her retirement letter to Harrison Chief Circuit Judge James A. Matish.