SPENCER, W.Va. – The former chief tax deputy for the Roane County Sheriff’s Department has been under investigation for nearly two years on allegations she embezzled money from the department. Patricia Daugherty was arraigned on four felony charges and entered a guilty plea Thursday.
Daugherty worked in the tax office for more than 20-years under four sheriffs before she resigned from the job back in January 2012. That’s when accusations of missing money began to surface.
Calhoun County Prosecutor Shannon Johnson, named a special prosecutor in the Daugherty case, said an information was filed two weeks ago that included four felony charges.
“[She’s charged with] one count of embezzlement, two counts of falsifying accounts and one count of fraudulent schemes,” explained Johnson.
It came to light, according to the special prosecutor, not long before Daugherty resigned from office.
“Through an investigation by the Roane County Sheriff’s Office and through the State Police,” said Johnson.
The amount of money missing from the Sheriff’s Tax Department coffers is $96,000. The money was taken between August 2010 and December 2011.
As part of the information, Daugherty is cooperating with investigators.
She’s set to be sentenced on February 5th. She was released on $50,000 bond.
Roane County Prosecutor Josh Downey recused himself from the case because of his close connections with the sheriff’s office.