Bell County Clerk Rebecca Blevins and three others from her office were accused Friday of theft from Kentuckians who purchased automobiles out of state. Instead of receiving a tax rebate form the clerk’s office like they were supposed to, Blevins allegedly kept the money, said the attorney general's office. Kentucky State Police and the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigation executed a warrant Friday morning against Blevins.
Bell County is in southeastern Kentucky. Attorney General Jack Conway's office was forwarded the investigation after an audit into the Bell County’s books revealed accounting irregularities, said Allison Martin, a spokeswoman for Conway's office.
"There were some irregularities that were discovered, and once our office started investigating, we determined that were some refunds, about 50 refunds that were owed to Kentuckians who had purchased their cars or vehicles in different states," Martin said.
Martin said the investigation is ongoing.
Here's a breakdown of the charges:
· 45-year-old Rebecca Blevins, Bell County Clerk. Blevins is charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of property valued over $500 and less than $10,000, a Class D felony; criminal possession of a forged instrument, a Class D felony; and official misconduct in the first degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
· 55-year-old Flora Ferrell, Bell County Deputy Clerk. Ferrell is charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of property valued over $500 and less than $10,000, a Class D felony, and criminal conspiracy, a Class A misdemeanor.
· 23-year-old Kayla Carnes, Bell County Deputy Clerk. Carnes is charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of property valued over $500 and less than $10,000, a Class D felony, and criminal conspiracy, a Class A misdemeanor.
· 40-year-old Connie Watkins, Bell County Deputy Clerk. Watkins is charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a Class D felony.
