CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner announced today that Jan Hite King and Kimberly Maynard, both of Cabell County, have been convicted of one count each of False Swearing for violations of West Virginia election law.
The convictions stem from actions taken during the 2022 Primary Election cycle, when King and Maynard knowingly submitted false information on their Certificates of Announcement while declaring their candidacies for public office. Investigators found that both individuals certified they lived in jurisdictions where they did not reside — a requirement for eligibility to seek the offices they filed for.
Secretary Warner said the case sends a clear message that election violations will not be ignored.
“Long gone are the days that election shenanigans go unpunished. My Office will spare no expense seeking prosecution of all those who attempt to cheat the system,” Warner said. “Even the most minimal infractions can siphon votes from legitimate candidates and disenfranchise every voter who casts a vote for an ineligible candidate.”
Warner praised the work of Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Seth Gaskins, the Cabell County Board of Ballot Commissioners, and his own investigations team — including Investigations Division Director Kim Mason, General Counsel Dave Cook, and former Attorney General Lead Investigator Robert Hanson.
A Cabell County grand jury indicted King and Maynard in 2025, but the case was initially dismissed after the circuit court ruled that the one‑year statute of limitations for misdemeanors applied. The State challenged the decision, and in 2026, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia granted a writ of prohibition, ruling that the five‑year statute of limitations for election crimes applies to such offenses, including misdemeanors.
Following the Court’s decision, Prosecutor Gaskins reinstated the case, which was decided by a Cabell County jury on September 16, 2026.
“I was proud to serve on a case of such importance to the integrity of our election system,” Gaskins said. “Let this be a deterrent to all those who seek to undermine our institutions.”
Under W.Va. Code §3‑9‑3(b), each violation carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.
King and Maynard are scheduled to be sentenced on October 23, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
