PORT ANGELES — The state Auditor’s Office will begin a detailed audit of Clallam County Treasurer’s Office finances on Thursday with an in-person interview of Treasurer Judy Scott at the Clallam County Courthouse, agency spokeswoman Mindy Chambers said today.
The audit was prompted by Scott’s May 20 discovery that at least $1,500 in public funds apparently was stolen by an as-yet unidentified employee, which triggered a criminal investigation by the Port Angeles Police Department that is focusing on a charge of first-degree theft, a felony when more than $1,500 is stolen.
Police Chief Terry Gallagher said his investigation, being conducted with the county Sheriff’s Department, will remain on hold until the audit is complete.
A detective may sit in on the 9 a.m. Thursday interview, he added.
It will be conducted by Auditor’s Office Director of Special Investigations Jim Brittain, Fraud Manager Jennifer Forsberg and Audit Manager George Amburn, Chambers said.
“We don’t know how much is missing,” Chambers said, adding she also didn’t know how long the investigative team would stay in Port Angeles.
The Sheriff’s Department said Monday the suspected theft “involves an employee” in Scott’s office, which is staffed by five workers including Scott.
Neither Gallagher nor Scott would identify the employee or give a range of funds that allegedly were stolen.
Scott would not say how she found out that funds appeared to be missing but was reviewing office accounting procedures and discovered a financial recording anomaly that made her suspicious.
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Staff writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com
