Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 7, 1993 TAG: 9301070186
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: NARROWS LENGTH: Medium
GILES COUNTY WORKER CHARGED WITH GRAND LARCENY
A part-time employee of controversial Giles County Treasurer Rick Cook was arrested here Monday night on grand larceny charges.Mark David Weiss, 22, is charged with taking $645.85 worth of cash and jewelry from a Narrows home in which he was a guest.
Weiss was a guest in the home of Barbara Robertson when the alleged theft occurred, said police.
"I think he was staying there visiting with the Robertson's son," said Narrows Police Chief W.H. Clemons.
Cook, who took over as treasurer in January 1992, was unavailable for comment Wednesday.
Commonwealth's Attorney James Hartley said the alleged theft "appears to be unrelated to his [Weisses'] duties at the Treasurer's Office."
Still, the arrest of an employee adds to a list of problems that have swirled round the Treasurer's Office under Cook.
Cook, a former Narrows contractor and high school football star, has been plagued by high staff turnover and a lawsuit by an ex-employee, among other things, since taking office a year ago.
In addition, auditors last summer said they were unable to conduct their annual audit of the Treasurer's Office because of inadequate records. A Richmond accountant has been hired to "reconstruct" Cook's books since last February, so that an audit can proceed.
Weiss, of Narrows, was still in jail Wednesday in lieu of posting $2,500 bond.
He was hired by the Treasurer's Office two months ago as a part-time employee, county officials confirmed. Weiss worked 44 hours in November and 75 in December.
According to court records, a gold chain, a gold bracelet and money was taken from the Robertson home on or about Dec. 23.
A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 2 in Giles County General District Court.