JACKSON- State Auditor Stacey Pickering presented a $34,125.40 check today to Walthall County Board of Supervisors President Ken Craft, Chancery Clerk Bob Bracey and Walthall County Supervisor Clennel Brown following an investigation into former Justice Court Clerk Sandra Kennedy Schilling’s mishandling of public funds.
From Left to Right: Walthall County Supervisor Clennel Brown, Board of Supervisors President Ken Craft, State Auditor Stacey Pickering, and Chancery Clerk Bob Bracey
These funds were recovered after the State Auditor’s Office filed a claim against Schilling’s bond policy.
The Auditor’s Office found that Schilling failed to deposit checks she received into the Walthall County Justice Court bank accounts. Discrepancies were found in all three Justice Court bank accounts – civil, criminal and restitution – since November 2006. As Justice Court Clerk, Schilling had the responsibility to account for all funds handled by her office.
“Based upon the evidence developed in this investigation, Ms. Schilling failed to deposit checks she received as Justice Court Clerk,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “The taxpayers of Walthall County have suffered due to Ms. Schilling’s actions. My office, in this case and in others, will continue to hold individuals in positions of public trust to the highest standard allowed by law.”
Schilling, 57, resigned as Walthall County Justice Court Clerk on January 13, 2010.
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