WEST POINT — The interim superintendent of West Point”s Water and Light Department will appear in municipal court Oct. 27 to stand trial on charges of disturbing the peace.
Shasta Plunkett, who took over the electric half of Water and Light Oct. 1 when Paul Young retired, turned himself in to West Point Police on Monday following a disturbance Friday at a SoCo gas station on Highway 45 Alternate in West Point.
Plunkett was involved in a loud argument with Marvin Jefferson.
According to an affidavit submitted Monday by Jefferson to the WPPD, Plunkett encountered Jefferson at the gas station around 1:15 a.m. Friday and began yelling at him about his girlfriend”s unpaid water bill.
Jefferson”s affidavit states he attempted to pacify Plunkett by offering to speak with him Monday at the Water and Light Department, but Plunkett remained belligerent.
“(Jefferson) told (Plunkett) to leave him alone, but (Plunkett) kept on,” said West Point Assistant Police Chief Bobby Lane in explaining the report.
Plunkett declined comment on the incident. Lane said Plunkett entered a plea of “not guilty” Tuesday in West Point Municipal Court. His trial is scheduled for Oct. 27.
If convicted, Plunkett could face a fine of $500 and up to six months in jail.
West Point Chief Administrative Officer Randy Jones says Plunkett”s future with the city, if convicted, will be in the hands of the board of mayor and selectmen.
“This didn”t take place on city time or that individual”s property,” noted Jones.
Jones says Plunkett, to his knowledge, has no history of discipline problems.
Ward 5 Selectman Jasper Pittman says the encounter was entirely out of line if it occurred as Jefferson alleges.
“It doesn”t matter if he had a bill or not. It”s not appropriate for (Plunkett) to approach him. That”s not Shasta”s job to collect money,” said Pittman. “We”re going to look into these allegations seriously and going to make a decision accordingly. We”ll have to talk to the city attorney and see what”s appropriate disciplinary action.”
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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