Former Gilmer Fire Chief Accepted Plea Agreement

GILMER — Former Gilmer Fire Chief Mike Melton on Friday pleaded guilty, and accepted an agreement that puts him on 10 years of probation and requires him to pay about $16,000 in restitution, attorney David Griffith said. Melton, 53, was indicted in December on charges of misappropriation of fiduciary property ranging from $1,500 to $20,000. He resigned his position as Gilmer fire chief in October amid the investigation.

Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd has said the indictments stem from January 2008 and included abuse of checks and credit cards belonging to the Gilmer Volunteer Fire Department. Melton became Gilmer’s fire chief in 2005. The fire department elected Jerry Taylor to serve as its new chief in January.