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The West Virginia State Police in Glenville have now credited Sheriff Mickey Metz for launching an investigation into missing funds from his tax office, which ended with the arrest of tax clerk Michelle Dawn Rose, 29, of Glenville.
A State Police news release says "Sheriff Mickey Metz discovered the missing funds and requested the investigation by the Glenville Detachment," a statement disputed by several Gilmer residents.
Rose has been charged with one count of embezzlement, according to Sgt. C. M. Alton, Jr. She reportedly took about $8,500.
The arrest reportedly came after complaints were filed by citizens regarding problems in the tax office. Rose was relieved of her duties in May.
Sheriff Metz accused the Hur Herald of publishing rumors regarding an audit, which the Herald said was being conducted regarding his department's financial records.
Metz told the Glenville Democrat that such reports were unjustified, saying that the audit was not being done exclusively on his department, but that "The whole county government is being audited."
Officials disputed Metz's statement, saying there was a focused audit being completed on the Sheriff's records after citizens complained.
The Glenville Democrat-Pathfinder reported "The whole matter came to light, County Clerk Marks points out, because the Hur Herald, a web newspaper operating out of Calhoun County, had received several e-mails from outraged Gilmer County taxpayers, in that their names had appeared, ostensibly incorrect, in the delinquent property tax reports...They had paid their taxes."
Metz told the Glenville Pathfinder he is doing his own audit, and will live up to a promise he made to Gilmer voters to "clean things up."
Rose has been released on $10,000 bond.
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