W.Va. Firefighter Enters Plea in Battery Case

March 22--A volunteer firefighter accused of improper advances toward a married woman he was helping after her house burned down entered a no-contest plea Wednesday to misdemeanor battery.

Craig Edmond will serve one year of unsupervised probation as part of a plea agreement signed in Monongalia County Magistrate Court, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Cindy Scott said.

A six-month jail sentence was suspended in favor of probation.

Edmond had no comment for a reporter. His attorney did not respond in time for this report.

At the time of the alleged incident, Edmond was a member of the Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department, but he is no longer affiliated with the department, Chief Jason Christopher said.

The following are allegations made in the criminal complaint:

Edmond was among the firefighters who responded to a Dec. 21, 2011, blaze that left a woman and her family homeless.

He told the woman that a donation center would be set up at the day care center he owned -- Pleasant Day Schools.

The woman went to Edmond's business several times to pick up donated items. She said Edmond began making improper advances toward her after a few visits.

She said Edmond would ask for a hug and make inappropriate sexual advances when she would leave. He also grabbed her by the arm after hugging her and attempted to kiss her.

An employee who answered the phone at Pleasant Day Schools on Wednesday refused to comment on Edmond's current affiliation with the school, although Edmond was reached there by a reporter earlier in the day.

In 2008, Edmond was sued by four former employees for allegations of sexual harassment.

According to court records, the lawsuit was "fully compromised and settled" and then dismissed in June. No details of the agreement were provided and Edmond's civil attorney could not be reached in time for this report.

Copyright 2013 - The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.