The West Virginia Supreme Court has reversed a circuit court’s decision to dismiss a former officer’s defamation lawsuit against the mayor of Belle. Former officer William David Haught II filed the lawsuit and alleges the mayor, David Fletcher, knowingly made a false statement to council members and another officer that Haught was involved in an illicit affair while on duty. In 2020, the Kanawha County Circuit Court dismissed lawsuits against Fletcher in his official capacity as mayor, the Town of Belle and Fletcher individually. The Supreme Court’s ruling reverses the decision against Fletcher individually. The case against Fletcher has been sent back to Kanawha County Circuit Court.