By Publisher Shari Johnson
In the manner of Ridgeview News Coverage, as I have done since January 1st, 2023; individuals who are charged and taken to the WV Central Regional Jail are noted and a complaint request is made to the Calhoun Magistrate Clerk at my earliest convenience, and returned at her earliest convenience and then published as openly and as verbatim as possible depending upon the circumstances of the charges. I make it a practice not publish the name of a victim or their address (unless for some reason it’s necessary to the story’s understanding.)
So far as misdemeanor and traffic cases are concerned, at some point between the first of the month and mid month I contact the Magistrate clerk and request a copy of the previous month dispositions, at which time Mrs. Kandace Smith, the Magistrate Clerk, sends them to me, when she has the opportunity. It’s not urgent information, they are closed cases.
This is where I would have published the news regarding the tax charges against Commissioner Craig Arthur once his case had been closed. Just as I would have any individual in the county charged with such a crime. Did I have that information? Yes, because someone made sure I had it, without me even requesting it.
I graciously accepted the complaint, and then realized I had been duped. Or at least that’s how I felt. I received the information the same weekend Jacob McCumbers was arrested in hopes of my publishing of the information so that the other Commissioner would fall to disgrace as the first one did.
The problem with that is, the crimes were no where near comparable, and I opted to stick to my original publishing protocol and wait until Mr. Arthur’s case was on the Magistrate Court Disposition report. That is likely why Mr. Arthur’s criminal complaint made it into the hands of the television stations. Somebody really wanted to make sure it was in the news.
Is it important to know that Mr. Arthur was charged with seven counts of failure to pay tax or file return or report? Possibly. But Mr. Arthur was not arrested, he was summoned to appear. A summons is often issued instead of a warrant when the accused is not considered a flight risk or a danger to the community, allowing for their appearance in court without immediate arrest.
To satisfy anyone’s curiosity regarding Craig Arthur’s charges.
Craig Arthur received a non-filer letter by certified mail on 6/10/25 which was signed for by Craig Arthur on 6/14/25. The notice listed seven delinquent periods of tax returns for the sales and use tax due for periods ending October 31, November 30, December 31, 2024, January 31, February 28, March 31 and April 30, all in the year 2025. If found guilty of this crime Mr. Arthur faces of a fine of not less than $100 or more than $2,500.00.
This will not be covered until the disposition of this case comes through the regularly Magistrate Court Report.
HELLO!!!!!
For decades the definition of a crime remains the same! What the circumstances of the crime is or the comparison of different crimes is irrelevant! It is still defined as a crime no matter the circumstances!!!
I will kindly enlighten you that to cover your tracks you should have stuck with to your first reason of it not being urgent Information.
The duty of a reporter is to report the news! Being a biased reporter is defined as picking and choosing when and why they want to post the news and you just stated that in your article in a few words!!
Character shows a lot about a person! Reporters are often frowned upon always sticking their nose in business to broadcast because they want the news!!!
Being a biased reporter definitely shows someone’s true character!!! Hopefully you learn from this mishap and report all the news next time and not just what you “chose” to report at the time!