Jury to get Hardin County theft case today

KENTON - Former Hardin County Deputy Treasurer Deanna Polen said Thursday she was in the red a few times with her personal checking account but it was more from carelessness than being financially strapped.

Polen took the stand in her own defense on charges that accuse her of stealing more than $30,000 from Hardin County. She is charged with theft in office, forgery and seven counts of tampering with government records.

"Weren't you having financial problems, Ms. Polen?" Prosecutor Jim Manken said.

"Not really. We lived paycheck to paycheck," she responded.

Polen explained the few times her personal checking account had insufficient funds was because either she or her husband used a debit card without knowing how much was in the account.

Manken went over a series of questionable checks and transactions asking Polen about each. In some cases, checks were taken in by Polen or reported as being in her drawer at work but deposited late or not at all.

She denied any wrongdoing. Polen also said other people at the clerk's office had access to her drawer.

Jurors will return Friday morning to hear closing arguments then get the case to determine Polen's fate.

Polen's attorney, Bill Kluge, has portrayed the Hardin County Treasurer's Office as poorly run with sloppy bookkeeping. Other employees had access to her cash drawer and computer, he said.

Polen was a 28-year employee of the Treasurer's Office. The charges say she stole more than $30,000 from real estate tax payments by altering and falsifying records from July 2, 2004, to Oct. 10, 2006.