Cops and Courts

Former Pleasant Valley mayor charged with embezzlement while in her post; city assures no disruption in services

FAIRMONT - A day after former Pleasant Valley mayor Emily Haddix was arrested and charged with embezzlement, officials of the Marion County municipality put up a Facebook post to residents stating no civic services will be disrupted nor delayed during the legal process.

Haddix, 38, who was first elected to council in 2016, was taken into custody by county deputies Monday.

According to the criminal complaint, she is charged with allegedly embezzling more than $600,000 from the city over a three-year span from January 2023 through May 2026.

"The City of Pleasant Valley is fully aware of the serious charges and ongoing investigation concerning former Mayor Emily Haddix," came the official comment.

"The current council for the City of Pleasant Valley would like to assure the residents that the actions of this individual do not represent the entire government or its dedicated employees," the post continued.

"The council would also like to assure residents that city operations, public services and daily business will continue without interruption."

Haddix is alleged to have drawn into municipal coffers for online purchases of personal items, concert tickets, utility payments for her household and for vacation outings to Boston and Kitty Hawk, N.C.

All told the misappropriated monies totaled $622,795.22, according to the complaint.

Between 2021 and 2026, the complaint charged further, Haddix also paid herself an unearned salary of $9,925.

City funds were allegedly transferred from Pleasant Valley's account with Fairmont-based MVB Bank - to Haddix's personal account with the Community Bank of Parkersburg, the complaint read.

Haddix was lodged Monday in the North Central Regional Jail on a $655,000 bond.

In a social media post in May, Haddix announced she wasn't seeking reelection as mayor of the city with Colonial origins that was incorporated in 1995.

"Pleasant Valley was never a stepping stone for me," she wrote.

"If anything, it became an opportunity to witness firsthand where municipalities across our state fall through the cracks, and how deeply state-level decisions impact communities like ours every single day," she continued.

"As I step away from this position, I have been given a unique opportunity to continue advocating for Pleasant Valley and municipalities like ours at the state level."