PORT ANGELES — Cashier Catherine Betts has been identified as the Clallam County employee under investigation for first-degree theft of more than $1,500 from the Clallam County Treasurer’s Office.
County Personnel Director Marge Upham confirmed to the Peninsula Daily News today that Betts is the employee.
Betts had been placed on administrative leave May 19 after county Treasurer Judy Scott said were record-keeping anomalies that Scott said she discovered while reviewing office records. Betts, who earns about $45,000 a year, was taken off paid administrative leave June 1.
The state Auditor’s Office began a special audit of Treasurer’s Office financial records on June 4, and a criminal investigation is pending until the audit is completed. The audit could stretch into mid-July, the state Auditor’s Office has said.
“We took her off paid leave pending whatever the outcome is going to be,” Upham said.
Betts did not return a call for comment Tuesday morning, and her telephone appeared to malfunction after it rang following subsequent attempts.
Betts’ name came to light as the result of a Peninsula Daily News public records request of the county Human Resources Department.
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Staff writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
