HAYESVILLE
Ex-captain behind bars
A former captain of the Clay County Detention Center was indicted by the grand jury May 23 on allegations of embezzling money from a fund designated for inmates.
The grand jury returned bills of indictment on charges involving Krystal Dawn Ledford, 37, of Blairsville, Ga. The indictments were four counts of embezzlement by a public official and four counts of accessing a government computer to defraud. All charges are felonies.
According to the indictments, the alleged embezzlements occurred sometime between Sept. 28 and Dec. 20, 2018; Jan. 1 through Dec. 17, 2019; Jan. 31 through Dec. 23, 2020; and Jan. 4 to July 8, 2021.
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Ledford turned herself in at the detention center on May 31 and was taken into custody by a State Bureau of Investigation agent. After going before a magistrate, she was issued a $160,000 bond and has been released. Her court date has been set for Monday, June 24.
Ledford was captain at the time of the alleged crimes. Then sheriff Bobby Deese requested the SBI conduct the investigation after a county audit revealed discrepancies.
The audit was reported to county commissioners in March 2022 and involved at least two “significant deficiencies.” The questioned costs involved $3,521 in 2021 and $3,350 in 2020.
In her report, auditor Shawn Powell Long said she observed daily collections generated by the inmate funds accounting software for the entire current and previous fiscal year and compared to back statements for the same period, noting, “All of that money did not make it to the bank.”
Commission Chair Rob Peck confirmed that commissioners requested an audit focusing on the detention center where deficiencies were found. Because the account fell under Deese’s control and direction, the sheriff was notified, and his department called the SBI.
Sheriff Mark Buchanan declined to comment on Ledford’s case. However, he said major steps have been taken to improve the inmate trustee system, which includes significant oversight. (From the Clay County Progress.)
HANGING DOG
Coffee cup with a cop
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office will hold its latest Coffee With a Cop from 8-10 a.m. Friday at Hanging Dog General Store, 2345 Hanging Dog Road north of Murphy.
Join your neighbors and local law enforcement officers for coffee and conversation. No agenda nor speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know the officers serving our community.
Details: Call Chief Deputy Justin Jacobs at 828-837-2589, Ext. 1416.