BLOOMINGTON – Former Lawrence County Auditor, Jessica Staggs’ attorney, appeared in court on Tuesday for an attorney conference.
Special prosecutor Jim Gallagher represented the State of Indiana, while Staggs was represented by her attorney, Michael Allen. The parties agreed to reschedule the case for a further attorney conference on February 27, 2025, at 10:45 a.m. The matter will be heard in Monroe County.
Staggs, arrested on August 12, 2024, faced one charge of official misconduct, a Level 6 felony. She surrendered to authorities at the Lawrence County Jail without incident at 10:30 a.m. that morning. Staggs posted a $755 cash bond and was released by 11:40 a.m.
The case against Staggs came to light in November 2023 when the Indiana State Police and the Indiana State Board of Accounts contacted Lawrence County Prosecutor Sam Arp regarding her handling of town funds. As a result, Gallagher was appointed as the special prosecutor to review the case, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
A Special Investigation Report from the State Board of Accounts found that Staggs had failed to deposit more than $79,816.88 in utility receipts between January 1, 2015, and December 1, 2020. The report indicated that her actions constituted malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in her duties.
Staggs had served as the Clerk-Treasurer for the town of Oolitic from October 2014 to December 2020 before her resignation as Lawrence County Auditor in December 2023. Following the investigation, the information was forwarded to the Indiana Attorney General’s and Lawrence County Prosecutor’s offices for further action.
