Associated Press Published

Deal Puts Kanawha Prosecutor Charges on Hold

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 Domestic charges against Kanawha County prosecutor Mark Plants will be dismissed if he completes a pre-trial diversion program.

Plants’ lawyer and prosecutors agreed to the deal on Wednesday.

Special prosecutor Sid Bell says the misdemeanor charges will be pending for a year.

Plants is charged with domestic battery and violating a protective order to stay away from his ex-wife, Allison Plants, and their children. Prosecutors say he hit one of his sons more than 10 times with a leather belt on Feb. 22.

The agreement contains several conditions. Plants must not use corporal punishment to discipline his children and he must stay away from his ex-wife.

The deal also required Plants to make a public apology. He gave the apology Wednesday in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.