A local attorney pleaded guilty to a sexually motivated misdemeanor on Friday.
Michael Sharley pleaded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Monongalia County Circuit Court.
According to Special Prosecutor Pat Lefebure, the crime was sexually motivated in nature and occurred in January 2018. Lefebure is Wood County’s elected prosecutor.
Judge Phillip Gaujot accepted the binding plea agreement and sentenced Sharley immediately after at the request of Sharley’s attorney, Bill Pennington, who said his client wanted to get this over with.
Because the crime was sexually motivated, Sharley must register as a sex offender with the West Virginia State Police for 10 years. Gaujot also sentenced him to a $50 fine and six months in jail which will be served as probation.
As part of the plea, the state will not prosecute related offenses found by the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department investigation, Lefebure said.
According to the West Virginia State Bar, Sharley was admitted to the bar in September 1993 and his license is still active.
The West Virginia Office of Disciplinary Counsel does have an open investigation into Sharley, according to Betsy Casto, legal assistant.
