The Tennesee Comptroller of the Treasury released a report on June 21st showing Marion County — at $114,194 — accounts for nearly one-seventh of $736,694 in public funds still not recovered from $1.47 million missing from public funds over the last several years.
The funds in question are those linked to the cash shortage of $27,107.93 from the Marion County Election Commission office and $94,823.91 from the Haletown Volunteer Fire Department.
The grand jury indicted Holly Henegar of Jasper for Theft of Property over $10,000 and Official Misconduct in connection with those missing funds. Henegar pled guilty to an amended charge of Forgery of $1,000-$10,000 and was sentenced to serve 3 years of supervised probation on May 21st of this year.
Henegar was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the county in addition to serving 100 hours of public service work.
The charge for Official Misconduct was dismissed.
Billy Joe “B.J.” Henegar of Jasper was also indicted by the grand jury for Theft of Property over $60,000. His trial is set to begin on September 20th, 2012.
State Comptroller, Justin P. Wilson, said in a press release dated August 2010, “It is unacceptable to have any type of fraud, waste, or abuse at any level of government. This type of fraud was particularly egregious because it involved using small children as a smoke screen to conceal improper payments. The individuals responsible should be ashamed of the manner in which they have abused the public trust.”
