CARTHAGE, Mo. —
A reimbursement check sent on behalf of Sheriff Archie Dunn is being returned because Norman Rouse, attorney for the Jasper County Commission, contends the check was written on a county fund.
The check addresses one of the issues raised by Dean Dankelson, county prosecutor, in his request that the Missouri attorney general’s office look into whether Dunn has used county funds for his re-election campaign.
Dunn’s re-election campaign distributed coins to promote breast cancer awareness and raise money for a local program, but the cost of the coins was turned in to the county for payment. Bill Fleischaker, Dunn’s attorney, said previously that the submission for payment was not intentional but was done mistakenly.
He said the cost — $3,030 — was to be paid by private funds and would be reimbursed to the county. But the check sent to the county by Fleischaker is being returned because Rouse said it was his opinion that the reimbursement check was written on a county fund.
The check came from the Jasper County Sheriff Chaplain’s Benevolent Account, which Fleischaker said is a private fund used for charitable activities by the sheriff’s office, including the Shop With a Deputy program each Christmas.
Fleischaker said Rouse “continues to think of raising money for breast cancer awareness as a campaign plot. And I didn’t realize he could make that decision (on rejecting the check) unilaterally; I thought that was something the County Commission would have to decide.”
The prosecutor, in a letter to the Missouri attorney general’s office, said the sheriff promoted the coins on the “Re-elect Archie Dunn” Facebook page, creating the appearance of a conflict.
“This creates the appearance that Dunn is using coins purchased with government funds for his own individual gain,” Dankelson wrote.
“It’s no different than any other campaign raising money for a charity,” Fleischaker said.
Rouse said the account is a county fund because the money is “clearly donations to the Jasper County sheriff that’s being reported” to the county auditor’s office and treasurer’s office, and the check was signed by a county employee.
“I cannot believe donors thought the funds would be used to further Sheriff Dunn’s political campaign,” he said.
Richard Webster, county auditor, said the fund contains a balance of nearly $27,000 and that the money is secured along with other county funds.
Reports submitted to ensure that county funds are secured come from the office of Jeannie Wells, county treasurer. She said she does not consider the account to be county funds, but funds for which a county official is responsible.
“We secure because it’s a fund that an elected official is responsible for,” she said. “But they’re not taxpayer dollars; they’re donated dollars.”
Fleischaker said the sheriff’s office started sending reports on the fund to the county auditor’s office earlier this year.
“He makes a report on it to make sure he’s not doing anything wrong, and now he’s doing something wrong?” he said. “Employees are involved in the fund and helped design the breast cancer coin. This is bordering on the absurd.”
Dankelson is asking the attorney general’s office to investigate whether county funds are being used for Dunn’s re-election campaign. His letter cited the coins, plus allegations that a county deputy worked on Dunn’s campaign website on county time, that the sheriff had county vehicles positioned near his campaign tent at a recent event, and that he distributed T-shirts to schoolchildren graduating from an anti-drug program that had a “Re-Elect Archie Dunn for Sheriff” logo on the back. Some of the allegations were made by supporters of Dunn’s opponents in the August primary election.
Lawsuit
SHERIFF ARCHIE DUNN is suing the County Commission, county Auditor Richard Webster and others primarily over conflicts concerning expenditures of funds from the law enforcement sales tax.
Top Stories
Attorney for County Commission rejects reimbursement check
- Top Stories
-
-
Area pools ready for plunge; Schifferdecker opening still to be announced
Though this week’s mild temperatures may not signal swim season, most area pools are ready anyway. And, the mercury should rise a little this weekend to help those anxious to dive in. Highs will be in the low 80s today and Sunday. There is a chance for isolated thunderstorms on Monday, but the thermometer should hit 82 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
-
Joplin School Board decision could take up to two weeks; Turner remains on paid leave
It could take up two weeks for the Joplin Board of Education to decide whether Randy Turner’s teaching contract should be terminated, the school district’s attorney, John Nicholas, said Friday.
-
Joplin insurance agent seeks donations for Moore, Okla.
After losing an office building and her home in the tornado on May 22, 2011, Loretta Bailey is familiar with the destruction that a tornado brings. The 400 households that her insurance agency helped through the aftermath of the tornado also know that loss. \
-
Families, friends invited to honor veterans with flags this weekend
Small lengths of plastic pipe have been installed behind the headstones of veterans graves in Joplin cemeteries so that every veteran will have a flag on Memorial Day.
-
Events, activities planned to honor veterans Monday
No ceremonies are planned at Joplin cemeteries this year or at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, but a number of other events are scheduled in cities around the region.
-
Joplin Board of Education to decide fate of East Middle School teacher
After hearing nearly 10 hours of testimony from more than a dozen witnesses and accepting more than 45 exhibits into evidence, members of the Joplin Board of Education voted to move behind closed doors Thursday night to decide whether Randy Turner, a communication arts teacher at East Middle School, will continue to teach.
-
Memorial Day travelers bemoan high gas prices
Norm Hayward and his wife, Claudia, have a couple of things going for them as they continue their increasingly expensive motor home trip around parts of the United States. For starters, the Phoenix, Ariz., couple are saving on hotel costs.
-
Cunningham Park vandalism estimated at $4,000
Vandals caused an estimated $4,000 worth of damage in Cunningham Park, draining the pool in the aquatic center of about 200,000 gallons of water and throwing some large landscaping rocks into the reflecting pond.
-
Joplin team drove through storm to get to Moore
It was a long drive in the middle of a severe thunderstorm that had earlier produced a massive tornado in Moore, Okla. With the two-year anniversary of Joplin’s deadly twister approaching on Wednesday, a team of 14 Joplin emergency workers was ready to risk the trip in order to get help to a hurting Moore.
-
Content of book, students' access to it at issue in hearing for suspended teacher
A standing-room only crowd is present at the hearing this morning to decide the fate of suspended Joplin Middle School teacher Randy Turner, who has asked for the hearing before the board of education.
- More Top Stories Headlines
-
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
