WCBI: Alcorn County Purchasing Clerk Arrested

July 18, 2014

CORINTH, Miss. – In an unofficial Alcorn County Board meeting, the state Auditor addressed the public and board members regarding the arrest of a purchasing clerk.

An investigation into the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors office led to the arrest of Paul Rhodes Thursday morning. Complaints were made to the auditor’s office concerning some spending issues.

Once the investigation began in December of 2013, Rhodes allegedly took photos of the investigation notes and warned the other supervisors about the probe.

In an affidavit, the State Auditor’s office says Alcorn County District 2 Supervisor, Jimmy Dal Nelms, Rhodes and others are all involved in a conspiracy designed to embezzle and/or convert money, equipment and property from Alcorn county.

“The affidavit that was filed in circuit court that led to the arrest this morning of the purchasing officer for Alcorn county, Mr Rhodes, stemmed from the fact that he interfered with and divulged part of our investigations resulting in an obstruction of the investigation in the first degree,” says State Auditor Stacey Pickering.

Rhodes is being held on a $10,000. The investigation is ongoing.

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The original story can be found here.