Letter: Frivolous spending, politics, cookie scandal

I would like to thank letter writer Melinda Bockrath for bringing to light what I like to call “The Cookie Scandal of '88.” There are a few details she left out, and I would like to provide them to her and the residents of Putnam County.

It is true that, in 1988, I was charged with theft in office while I was sheriff of Putnam County. This stemmed from an inmate transport. In doing, so I could charge my lunch to the county, which would have cost the county $4 to $5. Instead I chose to eat chips and cookies from the jail that cost no more than 50 cents. The charges also brought up that I had used drain cleaner from the jail, which was replaced the very next day. After taking this case to trial, the prosecution dismissed the theft in office charge and I agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unauthorized use of property. The “Cookie Scandal” trial ended up costing Putnam County taxpayers $12,000.

Coincidentally, this investigation was in an election year and initiated by a relative of my opposing candidate. Thankfully, my love for cookies did not sway the voters. Support throughout the county was shown by winning both the primary and general elections by landslides, and I was elected to three more terms as sheriff.

I invite everyone to review the case by reading “ The top stories of 1988” in the Dec. 28, 1988, issue of the Putnam County Sentinel. This is a perfect example of the frivolous spending that occurs in our county government that I would like to control as Putnam County commissioner.

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