5/19/11 Nashville clerk sentenced for theft

  • By Nick Sabo
  • May 19, 2011
  • 338
                        
SUMMARY: Thefts from village coffers started as "a little bit here, a little bit there" A woman convicted of stealing $17,000 while employed as the Nashville Village clerk started off by taking small amounts, her attorney said Wednesday May 18. Donna Barnes, 52, 131 S. Monroe Street, Nashville, was sentenced Wednesday to restitution and 365 days in jail by Holmes County Common Pleas Judge Robert D. Rinfret on one count of theft. According to a state audit, Barnes embezzled approximately $17,991 from Jan. 1, 2006 to Oct. 9, 2009. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sean Warner said the audit took “three to four” months longer than expected and cost the village $10,000. Village officials estimated that an additional $12,000 was stolen, Warner said, but incomplete records make arriving at a set figure difficult. The total damage to the village, including the audit, is estimated at $40,000. As of sentencing, Barnes still owes the village $12,970.22. The thefts were reported in October 2009 to the Holmes County Sheriff’s office by Nashville Mayor Craig Walkerow. Walkerow told deputies that Barnes had confessed to the thefts and resigned. At that time, Barnes gave the village $17,500 toward restitution. Barnes is currently employed as manager of Holmes Transportation Services, which is owned by Walkerow. She has been taking $500 deductions from her pay each month that has in turn gone toward restitution. Barnes’ attorney, Andrew Hyde, said Barnes saw stealing from the village as a means to resolving her own financial problems. “In talking with (Barnes), she has had very similar stories to other clients I’ve represented in similar situations,” Hyde said. “She was in a financial problem, she was handling money for someone else. It started as a little bit here, a little bit there.” Hyde said Barnes was “surprised” at the total amount stolen after she was caught. Walkerow, speaking at the sentencing hearing, said cleaning up after Barnes’ malfeasance has been a burden on the village. “This has been a tough, rough deal,” Walkerow said. “We’ve had 18 months cleaning this up.” Walkerow further stated the village had adopted tougher oversight for the clerk’s position. Rinfret granted Barnes work release to continue paying restitution. He further sentenced Barnes to three years probation and ordered her to pay the costs of prosecution after the restitution to Nashville is complete.


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