BEDFORD – Former Lawrence County Auditor Jessica Staggs was arrested Monday, August 12, at 10:30 a.m. after a warrant was issued.
She is facing one charge of official misconduct, a Level 6 felony.
She surrendered herself to the Lawrence County Jail without incident.
Staggs placed a $755 cash bond and was released at 11:40 a.m.
In November 2023, the Indiana State Police and the Indiana State Board of Accounts contacted Lawrence County Prosecutor Sam Arp about the then-Lawrence County Auditor Jessica Staggs and her involvement in missing funds while she served as Clerk-Treasurer for the Town of Oolitic.
“A meeting was conducted at my office with these two agencies, and allegations of a criminal violation were being made,” said Prosecutor Arp. “Following the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct, a request was made for a Special/Senior Prosecutor to review the case for a charging decision and to handle its outcome. This decision was made to prevent the appearance of impropriety.”
Jim Gallagher was appointed the special/senior prosecutor. He reviewed the case and issued a warrant for Staggs’ arrest.
The Town of Oolitic received the State Board of Accounts Special Investigation Report into former Town Clerk-Treasuerer Jessica Staggs’s handling of town funds.
According to the report, they have forwarded the information to the Indiana Attorney General and Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office so that charges can be filed against Staggs.
The investigation concluded Staggs was malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in her duties. Staggs resigned as Lawrence County Auditor in December 2023.
Investigators found Staggs did not deposit more than $79,816.88 in utility receipts.
The investigation covers January 1, 2015, to December 1, 2020.
Staggs served as the Ooltic Clerk-Treasurer between October 2014 and December 2020.
