Officers from the state attorney general’s office have arrested former Kenton town treasurer Stephanie Mickle, 43, following their investigation into charges she misappropriated between $188,000 and $200,000 in town funds.
The case was investigated by the Consumer Protection Division following an early June 2010 referral by the state auditor, which had conducted an audit at the request of Kenton town officials.
The agencies’ investigations revealed Mickle represented herself as town manager with forged town council meeting documents, sold the town’s cell phone tower easement and then took those funds for personal use, said Department of Justice spokesman Jason Miller.
Investigators also learned that from 2008 to 2010, Mickle allegedly made approximately 900 fraudulent financial transactions using debit cards, checks, computer transactions and electronic transfers to pay personal expenses.
According to the warrant of probable cause released by Justice of the Peace Court 7, the auditor’s office reviewed town bank accounts from May 7, 2008, to April 6, 2010.
The warrant referred to Mickle by several other names, including Stephanie R. Shepperd and Stephanie J. Rash.
Their investigation showed that for 2008, Mickle allegedly made unauthorized transactions totaling $55,475.52; for 2009 she misappropriated $72,350.29; and she took $61,098.67 in 2010.
Part of that money came from the sale of the cell phone tower, according to the warrant.
The investigation indicated forged town council meeting minutes from Dec. 23, 2008, named Mickle as town manager, giving her control of all town finances and its bank accounts.
Further, Mickle allegedly forged another set of minutes dated Jan. 1, 2009, concerning the sale of the cell tower.
Mickle then allegedly sold the tower’s utility easement for $143,500 on Jan. 22, 2010.
The misappropriated funds were used for personal debts, to include paying off $15,432.86 in court costs for prior felony convictions.
Mickle was charged with three counts of theft over $50,000 and two counts of second-degree forgery, then committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in default of a $63,000 secured bond.
Kenton officials are set to discuss the town's financial situation during a town council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13 at the Kenton School.
Email Jeff Brown at jeff.brown@doverpost.com.
