Former Berkeley County tax deputy faces theft charge

September 01, 2004|by CANDICE BOSELY

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A former tax deputy who worked for Berkeley County has been charged with a misdemeanor count of embezzlement after bookkeeping records showed her deposits were short by $382, records state.

Cora A. McDonald, 56, of 61 Olympic Drive, Martinsburg, told police that she took the money because her husband's health is failing and she wanted to help pay the couple's bills, according to Sgt. Russell Shackelford of the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department.

McDonald worked as a tax deputy from Feb. 15, 2000, to Sept. 5, 2003.

On Sept. 3, 2003, McDonald was confronted about the missing money. She repaid $382.60 and quit two days later, police said.

Later, McDonald told police that she believes she took around $3,000 altogether, records allege.

Tax department officials conducted an audit after others came forward with allegations of missing money, Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely said.

"She covered it well," Games-Neely said. "They were small amounts, $100 here, $50 there."

McDonald told investigators that she could not identify the customers whose money she took, records state. She is free on $5,000 bail and is paying the money back, officials said.

Conviction on a charge of misdemeanor embezzlement carries a sentence of up to a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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