Presgraves Trial to Begin Next Week

It’s been a while since I posted on the Sherriff Presgraves saga. There has been news from time to time, but this week has seen a number of updates. In this post I’m summarizing three recent reports from Harrisonburg News Station WHSV. Presgraves is charged with 22 federal counts ranging from racketeering to sexual assault to taking bribes, and if guilty may face imprisonment and fines.

(If you are finding this from a search engine, click on the Sherriff Presgraves label to read previous posts.)

1. Presgraves resigned this week as Page County Sherriff – effective February 28. The trial begins next week in Harrisonburg, Presgraves only asked that he and his wife be covered for the remainder of the year on health insurance as a severance package – a request that was granted.
2. This puts the wheels in motion for a special election to choose who will serve the remainder of his term…the election will be held in November. It also makes the petition issue moot – a petition was developed and submitted, but rejected on technical grounds. A revised version was in the works, but not much progress has been reported on this.
3. The senior deputy is filling in for now. He told the reporters that he has no intention of running for sherriff.

Following the developments of this case has been interesting. Page County is fairly close to evenly divided in their opinions about what should happen. Many are very loyal to the Sherriff, while others want to see this over with. And quite a few were angry that he was in a suspended with pay status while waiting for the trial.

Progress on all fronts this week. Keeping an eye on this.