Former Drug-Fighting Prosecutor Gets Prison Sentence for Drug Use

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former Mayor Mike Roark, who crusaded against drugs as county prosecutor, was sentenced Thursday to 179 days in prison and fined $5,000 for using cocaine while in office.

U.S. District Judge Walter Hoffman also sentenced Roark to three years of probation and ruled that he could serve his term at a minimum-security federal prison.

The judge ignored a request by Roark’s lawyer that he be ordered to perform public service work instead of being imprisoned.

“It does send a message that no one is above the law,” U. S. Atty. Michael Carey said after the sentencing.

Roark, who had faced a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $30,000 fine, had no comment as he left the courthouse.

Admits Using Cocaine

In a statement to Hoffman, however, he admitted using cocaine while he was Kanawha County district attorney and mayor.

“I have publicly acknowledged the hypocrisy of my conduct, and I must bear the shame of that,” Roark said.

His lawyer, James McIntyre, said Roark is “eager to make amends, eager to make corrections, and eager to serve again in any capacity which his talents lead him to.”

Roark resigned as mayor of West Virginia’s largest city on Nov. 24 as part of an agreement in which he pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor cocaine possession charges. Twenty-four other charges involving drugs and conspiracy to obstruct justice, including 13 felony counts, were dropped.