JACKSON- State Auditor Stacey Pickering announced today that a Warren County Grand Jury has returned a three-count indictment against Warren County Circuit Clerk Shelly Ashley Palmertree.

Palmertree was arrested and processed by OSA Special Agents and Deputies at the Warren County Sheriff’s Office this morning.

Palmertree was indicted on three felony counts of embezzlement. A previous indictment from August, 2013 was dismissed due to a processing technicality.

“My Office will continue to work to see that justice is served in this and all cases involving public monies,” State Auditor Stacey Pickering said.

Prosecution of this case is being handled by Stanley Alexander of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.

In March, 2013, the Auditor’s Office served a civil demand to Palmertree in the amount of $661,751.75. The amount of $402,033.00 was attributed to Palmertree exceeding the fee cap, and $163,700.00 was attributed to her making payments to relatives within the first degree of kinship. By exceeding the circuit clerk fee cap, Palmertree violated Mississippi Code Section 9-1-43, which provides a salary limitation of $90,000.00 for both chancery and circuit clerks after any expenses are paid. This matter is in civil litigation in Hinds County Chancery Clerk.

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Attached: Shelly Ashley Palmertree