The Fayette County Sheriff's Office is keeping a close eye on the finances of the county.
"Following previous problems within the Tax Office, my staff and I, working with the West Virginia State Auditor's office, established various safeguards and procedures to prevent and detect the misappropriation of funds within that office," said Sheriff Steve Kessler.
One of those procedures, a surprise internal audit, was initiated on Tuesday, Feb. 12. That turned up a $150 shortage in the cash drawer of one of the Tax Deputies. That lead to an immediate investigation. A release from the Sheriff's Office reads that Patricia Ann Walker, 52, of Oak Hill, who was responsible for the drawer, resigned her position only hours after the investigation began.
Walker is being charged with one count of misdemeanor embezzlement and one count of felony falsifying accounts.
"Although the amount of money stolen in this incident was relatively small, any level of theft is inappropriate and will not be tolerated," said Kessler. "We take our duty to guard the public's funds entrusted to the Tax Office very seriously."
"I am pleased to say that these procedures are working. This theft was quickly detected and reported and appropriate enforcement action was taken. I wish to commend my supervisors in the Tax Office ... for their diligence in monitoring and protecting public funds within the Tax Office," Kessler added.
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