On February 20, Gary Augustus Beamer entered a plea of guilty to three felony counts of Obtaining Money, Property and Services by False Pretenses before Judge Michael Asbury, Jr. in the Braxton County Circuit Court.
The guilty plea was related to charges that the defendant had been operating two separate beauty pageants in Braxton County, the Sweethearts of Easter Beauty Pageant purporting to raise money for the Children of St. Jude’s Medical Research Hospital, and the Christmas Pageant purporting to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association and keeping the money for himself.
As part of the plea agreement the defendant agreed to make restitution to the Children of St. Jude’s Medical Research Hospital and the Alzheimer’s Association in the amount of $5,000 to each charity. Beamer also agreed not be involved in the operation of any charitable pageants in the future.
The defendant’s sentencing is set for April 14, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Asbury. Beamer faces a possible effective sentence of 3 to 30 years in prison.
The State was represented by Braxton County Prosecutor, Dwayne Vandevender and the defendant was represented by Sutton attorney, David Karickhoff.
Devoted to Braxton County, West Virginia
