County clerk arrested for embezzlement by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
Columbiana AL. Dec. 24, 2007 The Shelby County Circuit Clerk's office is "devastated" after a 21-year employee was charged with stealing more than $50,000.
Sharon Brasher Billingsley, 42, of Montevallo was arrested Dec. 17 on charges of first-degree theft by the Shelby County Sheriff's office. Billingsley served as a bookkeeper for the clerk's office, handling deposits for the civil division.
We put a great deal of trust in this individual because she had worked here so long," said Circuit Clerk Mary Harris. "There was a sense of betrayal."Billingsley had spent her entire tenure in the office alongside Harris and Deputy Clerk Lou McLeroy, her immediate supervisor."Around January, I would see deposits that should have been on the bank statement," McLeroy said. "There was just some discrepancy there. We had so much trust in Sharon, it took the examiners coming in for us to fully recognize the situation."Harris said when state auditors showed up for a routine audit, they discovered more than $53,000 in discrepancies since 2005.
We put a great deal of trust in this individual because she had worked here so long," said Circuit Clerk Mary Harris. "There was a sense of betrayal."Billingsley had spent her entire tenure in the office alongside Harris and Deputy Clerk Lou McLeroy, her immediate supervisor."Around January, I would see deposits that should have been on the bank statement," McLeroy said. "There was just some discrepancy there. We had so much trust in Sharon, it took the examiners coming in for us to fully recognize the situation."Harris said when state auditors showed up for a routine audit, they discovered more than $53,000 in discrepancies since 2005.
Billingsley was placed on administrative leave in June and later dismissed Oct. 19."In years past she was meticulous in keeping the books, down to the penny," Harris said. "I would have trusted her with my last dollar."Billingsley was released Dec. 17 on $13,000 bond. She will face a preliminary hearing Jan. 9 before Circuit Judge Dan Reeves.I
f convicted, Billingsley faces a possible prison sentence of 2-20 years, according to the district attorney’s office.
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