Qualls
HUNTINGTON - A longtime Cabell County magistrate died Tuesday at his Huntington home.
Alvie Qualls, 78, appears to have died from natural causes, Huntington Police reported.
Qualls served as a Cabell County magistrate for 26 years, and was a justice of the peace. He had recently been under public scrutiny and was forced to defend himself against ethical allegations.
He was temporarily suspended in March, following a Judicial Hearing Board's finding that he sexually harassed co-workers and was incompetent to hold office. Qualls disputed the report. His case was argued before the state Supreme Court on May 21. The opinion is pending.
Qualls recently lost re-election as magistrate.
Former magistrate Dan Goheen was appointed Thursday to replace Qualls. The rest of Qualls term expires Dec. 31.
Goheen was one of 18 Democratic candidates who ran for the seven magistrate seats during the May primary, but came in eighth.
Goheen is a lifelong resident of Cabell County. He is a former member of the Huntington Police Civil Service Commission.