Opinion ID: 1242225
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Absence of Laboratory Testing and Dismissal of Criminal Charge

Text: The Appellee also argues that the absence of laboratory testing of the substance and the dismissal of the criminal charge should impact the administrative decision in this matter. However, this case arises from an administrative proceeding, rather than a criminal prosecution. Therefore, the applicable standard of proof is not the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt. The standard of proof in the present case is preponderance of the evidence. The Commission's order clearly addresses the issue of the identification of the substance and concludes that the substance was indeed cocaine. To substantiate this finding, the Commission had before it testimony specifying the trustworthiness of the field testing as indicating that the substance was cocaine. Officer Livingston testified that his prior years of experience had instructed him that the field testing is a very accurate method of determining the identity of the substance. Testimony was also presented from the arresting officer indicating that the Appellee admitted having a drug problem. Based upon all evidence of record, we find that the Commission's order is founded upon credible evidence and is not clearly wrong. In similar vein, we find that the dismissal of the criminal charge against the Appellee does not affect the propriety of the City's discipline against him. In syllabus point two of Neely v. Mangum, 183 W.Va. 393, 396 S.E.2d 160 (1990), this Court explained as follows: The dismissal of criminal charges that prompted initial disciplinary action against a public employee does not preclude a public official from administering further disciplinary action, including discharge. This Court recently employed the reasoning of the Neely case in Montgomery v. State Police, 215 W.Va. 511, 600 S.E.2d 223 (2004). In Montgomery, a police criminalist sought judicial review of an administrative decision upholding his discharge from the state police. 215 W.Va. at 513, 600 S.E.2d at 225. The criminalist contended that he should not have been discharged in an administrative proceeding since he was acquitted of the criminal charges. In analyzing the contentions raised in Montgomery, this Court explained as follows: Just as the continued employment of an individual charged with wrongdoing in Mangum was determined to be a valid consideration notwithstanding the dismissal of criminal charges, the employment status of Appellant was analogously subject to this kind of appropriate scrutiny. Like the sheriff's office for whom Mrs. Neely was employed, the State Police has a legitimate interest in limiting employment to individuals who can uphold a high standard of conducta standard that clearly requires that employees report to work in a sober state and refrain from engaging in criminal conduct, on or off the job. Id. at 515, 600 S.E.2d at 227. There are many reasons, including a higher burden of proof and stricter evidentiary rules, that may affect whether a criminal defendant is convicted. For example, the heightened level of proof required in a criminal DUI proceeding accounts for many cases in which administrative action is taken against an individual without an accompanying criminal conviction. Id. at 516, 600 S.E.2d at 228 (footnote omitted); see also Jordan v. Roberts, 161 W.Va. 750, 757-58, 246 S.E.2d 259, 263 (1978) (discussing differences between administrative and criminal DUI proceedings).