State senator arrested for indecent exposure, disorderly conduct

GLEN DALE, W.Va (WDTV) - A West Virginia state senator was arrested for indecent exposure and disorderly conduct in Marshall County.

Michael Maroney, 56, is accused of performing sexual acts on himself in a gaming room at Gumby’s Cigarette & Beer World, according to the Glen Dale Police Department.

Maroney is a senator in the 2nd Senate district, which consists of Monongalia, Marion, Doddridge, Gilmer, Ritchie, Tyler, Calhoun and Wetzel counties.

Employees of the store told police Maroney came out of the back room to the ATM machine and was “breathing heavy and touching himself” at approximately 1 p.m., according to court documents. After watching the CCTV, they saw him performing sexual acts on himself.

An employee approached him, asked him what he was doing and told them what they saw, and he became defensive and denied it. He said he would “just leave” but asked if he could finish his game first, court documents say.

Senate President Craig Blair released a statement Wednesday and said Maroney was removed as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources.

“Above all, I am deeply concerned for our friend and colleague, Senator Mike Maroney,” Blair said. “The facts that have emerged are troubling, and I am disappointed. However, in this time, our primary focus is on the well-being of Senator Maroney. To give him appropriate time to dedicate to his personal issues, I have removed him as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources and have relieved him of all other committee responsibilities. Like all citizens, Senator Maroney is entitled to full due process as this matter works its way through the legal system. We join in prayer for our friend Mike and his family as he deals with these issues. While the charges are still under investigation, if true, this allegation is obviously not up to the standard of what we expect from our elected leaders in the State Senate of West Virginia.”

However, officials have confirmed Maroney is still a senator at this time.