W.Va. Sheriff resigns after pleading guilty to mail fraud

Barbour County Sheriff John W. Hawkins has resigned after admitting he submitted a fraudulent insurance claim in April. Sheriff John W. Hawkins, 47, of Philipi, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Elkins to a felony Information charging him with mail fraud, U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld said. Hawkins admitted he drove his 2004 GMC Envoy off the road and hit a tree April 13 and then, with the assistance of one of his deputies, fabricated a report and filed a claim with Nationwide Insurance Co.