In a new court filing in Loudoun County court, a special prosecutor lays out several allegations that Purcellville’s vice mayor tried to rig the system to benefit himself financially. Most of those attempts, the special prosecutor alleges, failed. Except one.
Prior to winning his seat as Vice Mayor, Ben Nett was a Purcellville police officer. In the new court filing, a special prosecutor alleges Nett lied to his supervisor about being sick and falsely claimed sick leave, and that false claim resulted in a financial benefit to Nett in the firm of his annual leave payout once he was fired.
This is one of seven allegations that has led to a push from voters to recall Nett from office, a legal Hail Mary that’s never been successful in Virginia. But this time, the recall effort is moving further than most, with a jury trial scheduled for March.
The special prosecutor alleges Nett engaged in conduct on the council to benefit himself financially, retaliate against other council members, failed to follow town procedure, violated Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act and engaged in malfeasance in office by attempting to eliminate the town’s police department after that department fired him.
This case against Nett is a civil case and could only result in him being removed from office.
A criminal case against Nett is still pending.
Purcellville voters have also filed recall petitions against the town’s mayor and two other council members. So far, the special prosecutor hasn’t taken any action in those cases.
News4 reached out to Nett’s attorney for comment, and she said she would be in touch with a response once she speaks to her client.
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