(MARTINSVILLE) – The initial hearing scheduled for March 15 for suspended Martinsville Police Chief Matthew Long has been canceled.
His attorney, John Kautzman, filed a motion Friday to waive the initial hearing and special Judge Valeri Haughton, from Monroe County, granted the request. No additional hearing dates have been scheduled.
Court documents say Chief Long is charged with theft and official misconduct. Officials say Chief Long used his computer for banking three and a half weeks of sick days which he was not entitled to and cashed them out for $1,530. A State Board of Accounts audit released discovered that payment and a much larger one for nearly $6,800 in unearned overtime pay.
Attorney Kautzman released a statement saying Long denies the allegations and at no time did he “intentionally engage in any criminal or knowingly improper conduct.”
The 40-year-old Long was placed on paid leave in January. He was arrested Wednesday, Feb. 27 and was released on his own recognizance.
