Two former Anderson County Schools employees have been charged with stealing more than $10,000 in a two-year period between January 2018 and January 2020.
Heather Dawn Heatherly, 44, of Jacksboro, and Stephanie Leann Jenkins, 43, of Powell, were indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury on a single felony count of theft or more than $10,000 but less than $60,000 on February 1.
“The investigation was initiated by a complaint from a merchant that was concerned about the types of purchases being made with a government account,” said Dave Clark, Seventh Judicial District attorney general in Anderson County. “The Anderson County Schools promptly reported the matter to the Sheriff’s Department and suspended the employees.”
The lengthy investigation that followed included the ACSO, Anderson County Schools, Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, and the District Attorney General’s Office.
Anderson County Schools Superintendent Tim Parrott said Heatherly and Jenkins were immediately suspended when the alleged fraud was discovered and then later fired.
The indictment does not specifically say what the two are accused of stealing, although it says the theft included U.S. currency.
Anderson County Sheriff Russell Barker said “any theft is a concern, but the involvement of taxpayer money is an even higher concern.”
Jeff Gilliam of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office is a witness for the state. Also summoned in the case for the prosecution have been Anderson County Schools, Amazon, Costco, Target, and a Walmart employee.
Jenkins was arrested Sunday and released on a $50,000 bond. Heatherly was arrested Wednesday and also released on a $50,000 bond.
The two are scheduled to be arraigned in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on March 4.
Clark said the investigation involved cooperation between several agencies.
“We have worked with the state comptroller and local law enforcement to expose any wrongdoing and have installed safeguards for the future,” Parrott said. “We are grateful for the help we have received in this case.”
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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