Hannigan resigns as Town Public Works Director as hearing date looms

Above, Jimmy Hannigan, foreground, on the job at the March 5 town council work session; below, what’s in a name – public works, environmental services? The Town website lists Hannigan’s department as Public Works. By whatever name it includes trash and recycling collection, street and vehicle maintenance, water and wastewater treatment, horticulture, and construction and design project review. Photos/Roger Bianchini

FRONT ROYAL – Front Royal Town Manager Joe Waltz confirmed Wednesday morning, March 14 that Director of Environmental Services Carl James “Jimmy” Hannigan has tendered his resignation effective April 7.

Hannigan will remain on the job as head of the department more popularly known as Public Works (including on the Town website) through April 6 as the town administration seeks a replacement.  Hannigan has been with the Town since October 2004, and has been director of the department since February 7, 2012.

His resignation takes effect four days after a scheduled preliminary hearing in Warren County General District Court on three felony forgery counts filed against him by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.  The charges relate to Hannigan’s sale of a car that was a disputed property during his September 2017 divorce from his third wife, Danielle.

Hannigan was arrested and charged on the three forgery-related counts surrounding the vehicle on January 8, 2018.  In the criminal complaint the date of the offense is listed as “on or about September 7, 2017.”  Following the first of two brief hearings held thus far that have seen the matter continued on the court docket, Hannigan’s attorney Eric Wiseley presented his client’s side of the case.

“Mr. Hannigan went through a nasty divorce last year, and his wife was not happy with the Court’s decision regarding an automobile that belonged to my client.  Not happy with the Court’s decision, she filed criminal charges that are a bit overblown,” Wiseley told Royal Examiner on January 24.

Danielle Hannigan disputes that account.  She contends she paid for the 1998 Honda C-RV that both she and her ex-husband used during their marriage; a marriage in which she noted they had four cars between them.  She admits both their names were on the title as a joint marital property, an idea she thought a “neat” one before the marriage soured.

“It’s not that I am coming after him, I just want him held responsible for his actions, Danielle Hannigan told us, adding, “I don’t want to see him go to jail for it – I would just like to see the situation involving the car put right.”

Attempts to reach Hannigan or his attorney were unsuccessful prior to publication.  Any subsequent response will be added to this story as available.

As we pointed out following the February 27 hearing at which a continuation was requested by the defense, Danielle Hannigan is not the complainant listed on the three criminal warrants against her ex-husband. Rather, DMV Special Agent R. A. Brooks is.  The language used by Brooks to justify the felony “Forged Title” and “Forge and/or Utter” criminal complaints states that, “Carl James Hannigan, Jr. reassigned a title (title #) in the name and signature of Danielle Hannigan without the knowledge or consent of Danielle Hannigan and transacted said title to Avery Burroughs.”

The Town’s Employee Handbook indicates conviction on a felony charge would likely result in termination from town employment.