Circuit Clerk Charged with Theft, Falsifying Records & Abuse of Office – Issues Statement
October 11th, 2012 by Joe Burgess
According to Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Deen, Drew County Circuilt Clerk Pat Savage Montgomery was charged Tuesday with theft of property, falsifying business records, and abuse of office.
The court documents filed state…..
I “acuse Pat Savage of the offenses of (1) Theft of Property; (2; Falsification of Busioess Records; and (3) Abuse of Office, and that the said defendant in Drew County, Arkansas, unlawfully:
COUNT ONE – THEFT OF PROPERTY: On or about the period from January 1, 2008, through July 2,2012, did knowingly take or exercise unauthorized control over the property of the office of the Drew County Circuit Clerk valued in excess of $5,000.
COUNT TWO – FALSIFICATION OF BUSINESS RECORDS: On or about the period from January 1, 2008, through July 2,2012, with the purpose to defraud, did omit to make a true entry in the business of records of a governmental enterprise in violation of a duty to do so that she knew to be imposed on her by law or by the nature of her position.
COUNT THREE . ABUSE OF OFFICE: On or about the penod from January 1, 2008, through Juty 2,2012, being a public servant and with the purpose of benefitting herself in a pecuniary fashion, did knowingly omit to perform a duty imposed on her clearly inherent in the nature of the office of Drew County Circuit Clerk.
The specific amount of funds in questions at the root of the charges is $18,263 in funds. The investigation began out of the regular county audit.
Mrs Montgomery did provide a statement for MLive readers,
“I have not received any notice of charges being filed against me. I have passed all previous audits under at least 5 different auditors. I was notified of problems in the Recorder Cost Fund and presented documents. It’s is not county general money. I turned over numerous highlighted receipts to the auditors. They evidently choose not to look at them. I am the circuit clerk and take responsibility. I will correct any problems that have been found. I love being your circuit clerk and am proud of the progress that has been made in that office. I have received over $55,000 in grants to help upgrade the office and continued to save money for the county by using the Recorder Cost Fund to run the office. I apologize to the people of Drew County for any mistakes and ask for prayers. ”
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that is awful
Funds involved belong to the taxpayers.
I was worried something did not sound right in the beginning as a letter was sent to Damon Lampkin, Cliff Gibson, and Tomas Deen from Pat saying, “”I submit to you a letter for leave of absence for the office of Drew County Circuit Clerk. It has been my honor to serve Drew County in this office. This will be effective immediately.” When she took her leave of absence she knew what they had found up to that point and was only going to find more or she would not have made the comment about “It has been her honor to serve Drew County in this office”. That showed she knew things were not going to return to her normal position as the clerk once the investigation was over. All of her statements are saying the missing money is out of this account not the County General Fund account, does it really matter what monies are missing or just the fact that money is missing? I personally don’t see where that would make any difference its not a piggy bank for the any clerks personal pay day loan nor is it her money to use regardless what account it was taking out of.
I am totally in shock as this unravels I would have never dreamed she would do anything such as this. I have seen so many people defending her and I will not put her down myself as I have always liked her as a person and this doesn’t change that. Everyone makes mistakes but she has admitted she made a mistake. She will have to stand up for her mistake hold her head high show she knows she made a mistake and take it day by day things will get better. If I were her I would not want people defending me knowing the truth will come out then having to face people that said she would never do this we are backing you etc just admit it fix it and hold your head high nobody can say they are perfect so she should not be expected to be perfect either.
Prayers for everyone involved. This cant be easy on the staff in that office, Pat nor her family or friends.
Ok people enough about Pat. She lost her son this morning. If you don’t have anything good to say then don’t say anything. Instead, no matter what you believe, Pray for her and remember: Innocent until proven guilty, not vice versa.
Pat, my condolencies are extended to both you and your family for your loss, the charges against you will eventually “pan out”. May the Lord carry you in your double time of need.