Sen. Maroney facing third sex crime allegation since 2019
On Aug. 13, 2024, Sen. Maroney, (R-Marshall, 02), was arrested for an alleged "overt act of sexual gratification." In 2019 and 2020, he was accused of soliciting a sex worker.
Updated 8/16/24: On Thursday, Aug. 15, Sen. Maroney pleaded not guilty to charges of indecent exposure and disorderly conduct. His pre-trial hearing was set for September 18 at 1:30 p.m.
Updated 8/14/24: This story has been updated to reflect Maroney’s release from prison on a personal recognizance bond and his removal from all Senate committee assignments. Click here to read that story.
MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. – State Senator Mike Maroney (R - Marshall, 02) was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 13, and booked at the Northern Regional Correctional Facility and Jail at 6:38 p.m. that same day. He faces misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and indecent exposure.
First reported by The Intelligencer, Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Canestraro said Glen Dale Police were called to a local business on Sunday, Aug. 4. Employees say they saw a man through surveillance video allegedly engaged in “an overt act of sexual gratification.” When police arrived, Maroney was identified on scene and asked to leave.
This isn’t the first time Maroney is alleged to have committed a sex crime, either.
On Aug. 27, 2019, Maroney was arrested in his hometown of Glen Dale. At that time, police said they had text messages showing Maroney soliciting a woman for sex. In one exchange, Maroney allegedly asked “Is tonight OK?” to which the woman answered “Yeah, it’s 120 (a half-hour), 190” for an hour.
Just one year later, in August 2020, Glen Dale officer Gary Myers says he saw a woman leaving Maroney’s house. Myers says he pulled her over for “improper vehicle registration,” the woman allegedly admitted to engaging in sex work and a bag with two sex toys was found on her person. After a search warrant of the woman’s phone, a text message conversation between her and Maroney’s phone number allegedly show Maroney asking her to “bring a toy or two tonight.”
In March 2021, charges were dropped against Maroney due to a lack of evidence.
In 2022, Maroney filed a lawsuit against the 2019 charges, seemingly leaving out the 2020 allegations. In his complaint, Maroney said the charges against him were “false,” and of a political nature “to derail [his] re-election.”
Mike Maroney was first elected to the West Virginia State Senate representing the second senatorial district in 2016 and reelected in 2020. In 2024, Maroney was one of four incumbents to lose their bid for reelection to the State Senate, losing to Republican Chris Rose of Granville.
During the 2023 Legislative Session, Maroney, a physician, was outspoken in disagreements with his party over a gender affirming care ban. While Maroney ultimately supported the ban, he supported amendments that carved out exceptions for high risk kids. Speaking of the amendment, Maroney said “These kids commit suicide, these 30 kids. There will be some suicides. Who are we – to win an election – and start telling people who to practice medicine; to change treatments? It’s unbelievable.”
Maroney did not return a request for comment from media, including The Intelligencer, who broke the story, or Wheeling Free Press.
Update to this story:
