Board asks for probe of jail theft
It’s not unusual to find an accused thief in the Washington County jail.
What is atypical is a thief apparently was employed there.
Washington County Controller Michael Namie routinely audits several accounts at the jail, and when he and his staff began looking at what’s known as the “inmate money account” this past spring, the figures weren’t adding up.
Namie’s routine audit became a forensic audit, which translates into evidence that will be used in a court case over $1,907 that was missing.
At a meeting of Washington County Prison Board Wednesday, Namie recommended to his fellow board members a criminal investigation be conducted in an attempt to recover the missing money.
Conducting the criminal investigation will be District Attorney Gene Vittone and members of his office.
When a person arrives at the jail for incarceration, any cash he or she is carrying is to be taken for safekeeping, and the jail issues a receipt. This cash is to be deposited promptly in a bank, but in the case of the missing $1,907, the procedure wasn’t followed.
There was a pattern that became evident, but “the person of interest is no longer employed by the county,” Namie said after the prison board meeting. He declined to name the individual because there is an ongoing investigation.
Friends or family members can also place money in an inmate’s account, but these transactions are handled through a kiosk that prints a receipt.
Namie, in audits conducted during the recent past, has taken the jail administration to task when he saw a time lag in the depositing of inmates’ money.
“Anytime there’s a delay in deposits, it opens a door for theft,” Namie said.
In light of the audit’s findings, Warden Edward Strawn has met with jail staff about the issue.
“They understand I need those deposits to be made every shift,” Strawn said.