GOP state senator 'performed an overt act of self-gratification' in public: report

Republican West Virginia State Senator Mike Maroney was arrested this week and charged with indecent exposure after he was seen performing what local news station WTRF describes as "an overt act of self-gratification" in public.

Marshall County Prosecutor Joe Canestraro tells WTRF that a criminal complaint has now been filed against Maroney related to an alleged incident that took place at a local gaming parlor.

"The Glendale Police Department received a call from two female employees at a local gaming parlor about a man that was committing an overt act of sexual gratification in the gaming parlor," Canestraro explained. "Chief Vogler responded at that location and found Michael Moroney in the gaming room alone and was identified by the females just as the person that they saw on the surveillance video."

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According to WFRT, Maroney faces up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $500 if he's found guilty of indecent exposure.

This is not Maroney's first run-in with the law, as he was arrested in 2019 and charged with soliciting a prostitute, although the prosecutor in that case would later drop all charges after multiple delays.

Republican West Virginia Senate President Craig Blair put out a statement in the wake of Maroney's arrest stating that he had been removed from all of his committee assignments.

"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," said Blair. "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.”