MOUNDSVILLE – A state Senator who had charges of soliciting prostitution against him dropped has filed a civil lawsuit against the city and police officers involved.
Michael J. Maroney (R-Marshall) filed his complaint March 21 in Marshall Circuit Court against the Glen Dale Police Department, the City of Glen Dale, officer Ezekiel John Goddard and Police Chief Ed Vogler.
Maroney was arrested August 27, 2019, in Glen Dale. Marshall County court documents said someone used Maroney’s cell phone to solicit a prostitute in May 2019. A photo sent to the woman “clearly displaying his identity” led Goddard to believe it was Maroney.
In August 2020, Glen Dale officer Gary Myers saw another woman with a history of prostitution leaving Maroney’s home, according to court documents. He pulled her over for an improper vehicle registration. She admitted to engaging in prostitution, and she had two $100 bills and a bag with two sex toys. A search warrant on her phone also produced a text message conversation with Maroney’s phone that included a text message that read, “bring a toy or two tonight.”
The civil complaint seemingly only refers to the 2019 incident. Myers or the 2020 incident are not mentioned in the complaint.
Maroney is a radiologist and has served in the state Senate since 2016. He also is chairman of the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee.
Maroney consistently denied the allegations, calling them “untrue,” “fake” and ‘fictitious.” He suggested the case was dragged out to damage him politically.
In March 2021, a special prosecutor from Wood County dropped misdemeanor solicitation charges against Maroney due to lack of evidence.
In the civil complaint, Maroney says the “false criminal charges” were brought against him “to derail plaintiff’s re-election.” It says the charges caused media outlets to publish false and harmful information about Maroney “designed to harm plaintiff’s reputation.”
Maroney accuses the defendants of malicious prosecution, intentional infliction of emotional distress and abuse of process. He says he was harmed by their actions as was his reputation. He seeks compensatory and punitive damages, interest, court costs and attorney fees.
He is being represented by Wheeling attorney Paul J. Harris.
Marshall Circuit Court case number 22-C-18