CHARLESTON – Former state Supreme Court Justice Menis Ketchum’s federal sentencing has been delayed.
An order was filed Oct. 30 by U.S. District Judge John Copenhaver changing the date to Jan. 30. Sentencing had been scheduled for Dec. 6.
The delay actually was requested by a federal probation officer.
Supervisory U.S. Probation Officer Matthew Lambert submitted a letter to Copenhaver. He also is handling similar matters for convicted and suspended state Supreme Court Justice Allen Loughry.
Loughry’s federal sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 16 for now, but his attorney filed a motion last week seeking a new federal trial.
“This officer has not received the discovery in Mr. Loughry’s case as of this date,” Lambert said in his letter. “However, due to the possibility of an overlap in these cases, I am requesting continuance to avoid any unexpected changes in Mr. Ketchum’s presentence report that is currently in the process of being prepared.”
In August, Ketchum pleaded guilty to one federal charge of wire fraud. He admitted to using a state-owned vehicle and a state-issued gas card for personal use for golf trips to Virginia. He had resigned from the state Supreme Court in July just before all sitting members of the court were named in Articles of Impeachment by the House of Delegates.
Earlier this month, Ketchum’s law license officially was annulled.
