Clifton
MARLINTON – A Pocahontas County attorney is accused of coercing an inmate to have sex with him while serving as an assistant prosecutor.
Jarrell Lee Clifton II was among the 11 people indicted by the Pocahontas grand jury on Aug. 6. The grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Clifton charging him with two counts each of sexual assault in the second degree, and imposition of sexual intercourse of an incarcerated person.
According to the indictment, Clifton on unspecified dates between May and June 2010 forced a female inmate to perform oral sex on him. The location where the encounter occurred is not disclosed, and the name of the alleged victim is only identified by the initials T.N.S.
However, the incident occurred while Clifton was employed as an assistant prosecuting attorney. According to the Pocahontas County Clerk's Office, Clifton began working at the prosecutor's office on Nov. 7, 2007 – the day after he was admitted to the state Bar – and left on Jan. 16, 2011.
His beginning and ending salary was $27,000 and $49,500. According to the Bar's Web site, Clifton now works for the law office of Michael Doss in Marlinton.
Clifton has since been arraigned on the charges where he entered a not guilty before Judge Joseph Pomponio. He was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond with instructions to have no contact with the alleged victim.
The indictment was presented by Assistant Fayette Prosecutor Brian Parsons after Pocahontas Prosecutor Donna M. Price recused herself.
Clifton's trial is scheduled for Nov. 1. He is represented by Beckley attorney Jody Wooten.
Pocahontas Circuit Court case number 12-F-20