A former Keyser city councilman has been indicted on embezzlement charges stemming from a city tree removal contract.

Marques Rice was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury and was scheduled to appear Friday in Mineral County Circuit Court. A clerk at the court said the 35-year-old Rice does not yet have an attorney.

The indictment charges him with embezzlement and false pretenses. The latter charge is related to an insurance claim.

State Police Sgt. J.M. Droppleman said the charges concern a tree-removal contract prosecutors say was awarded without being taken out to bid.

The city's former finance commissioner, George Chidester, said the contract was worth more than $500,000.

Rice was defeated in May in a re-election bid.