Posted 1:39 am Friday, July 31, 2009
Former Rusk County Dispatcher Arrested
HENDERSON -- An internal investigation by the Rusk County Sheriff's Office into a missing money order culminated in the arrest of a former dispatcher who confessed to cashing the money order, Sgt. Amber Rogers, public information officer, said Wednesday.
Kristy Lyn Campbell, 43, of Henderson, was charged with theft of property by a public servant, a state jail felony. She was arrested on July 21 by Criminal Investigations Lieutenant Charles Helton, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Bob Richardson, and released on bond later in the day.
According to information released Wednesday by Sgt. Rogers, in about March a defendant whose case had been resolved requested the return of his bond, which he was entitled to.
The Rusk County Sheriff's Office warrants clerk discovered that the money order in which the bond had been paid with could not be found, and there was no record through the Rusk County Treasurers Office that the money had ever been deposited into any Rusk County accounts.
The defendant requesting a refund provided the sheriff's office a photo copy of the missing money order. Sheriff Danny R. Pirtle immediately ordered an internal investigation, carried out by the Rusk County Criminal Investigation Division, into the whereabouts of the missing money order. Investigators traced the money order and found that it had been cashed.
During the course of the investigation, it was found, after all subpoenaed documents and information were received, that former warrants clerk Kristy Lyn Campbell had cashed the money order in question under another name for her own personal gain, Sgt. Rogers said.
On July 8, after the full criminal investigation had been completed, Ms. Campbell confessed to investigators that not only had she cashed the money order, worth $500, but she had also cashed an additional money order also valued at $500.
Ms. Campbell, 43 of Henderson, held the position of dispatcher at the time of her confession and was immediately terminated from her employment with the Rusk County Sheriff's Office in accordance with Rusk County Sheriff's Office Policy and Procedure.
The criminal case was submitted to the Rusk County District Attorne's Office and a warrant was issued for the arrest of Ms. Campbell for the charge of theft of property by a public servant.
