West Virginia State Senator arrested for drunk driving, second arrest in months

Police stopped Republican Sen. Mike Maroney, 56, on Monday for several alleged traffic violations, the Wheeling News-Register reported. After a roadside investigation, Maroney was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, McMechen Police Chief Robert Shilling told the newspaper.

Maroney cooperated with police and was taken to jail pending arraignment, Shilling said.

He is charged with three misdemeanors: driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a license and an expired registration. Maroney, who has served in the state Senate since 2016, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday.

Maroney is just months into his second four-year term as state senator. He ran for re-election but lost in the May primary to challenger Chris Rose, a utility electrician and former coal miner.

Maroney's defeat came after he publicly opposed a GOP-driven bill that would have relaxed vaccination requirements for some non-traditional public schools. He also opposed a complete ban on medical interventions such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender youth.

In August, Maroney was removed from his post as chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee after being charged with public nuisance and disturbing the peace. Maroney was arrested on both charges following an incident on August 4 at Gumby's Cigarette & Beer World in Glen Dale.

Marshall County Prosecutor Joe Canestraro said in August that employees monitoring surveillance videos said they observed Maroney performing “an act of sexual gratification” in the video lottery room around 1 p.m. and called police. According to Canestraro, Maroney was the only person in the room at the time.

Maroney did not respond to a request for comment after his arrest in August.

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