WHEELING — The embezzlement case involving Belmont County Commissioner Mark A. Thomas will go to jury trial April 10 in Ohio County Circuit Court.

Thomas has been indicted on one felony count of embezzlement by a fiduciary. According to the indictment, the alleged crime involves the estate of Wheeling resident Dolores Anast, who is now deceased. The charge is related to Thomas’s private law practice and is in no way related to his work as a county commissioner.

Ohio County Circuit Judge James Mazzone presided over the pretrial hearing Friday morning. During the hearing, neither the defense nor the prosecution presented any motions to Mazzone.

Defense attorney Paul Harris and special prosecutor Luke Furbee of Tyler County discussed jurisdiction in the case. Furbee told the court that after doing prolonged research, he discovered evidence that will prove the embezzlement of $36,000 by Thomas in regard to the estate of the deceased Wheeling resident.

Though Furbee believes he has solid evidence, Harris said he does not believe the case will make it to the jury trial next month. He asserts this because the transactions in question did not take place in the state of West Virginia. Though Harris said the transactions took place outside of state, the estate is in Ohio County, which is where jurisdiction remains.

According to Furbee, the prosecution also is working to obtain additional documentation of time and billing records before the trial begins next month. The jury trial is set to begin at 9 a.m. April 10 in Ohio County Circuit Court.