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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 6, 1993                   TAG: 9304060260
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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2 FACE EMBEZZING CHARGES

Two cashiers have been charged in the embezzlement of nearly $8,000 from the Roanoke Civic Center box office.

Head cashier Patricia L. Willis and cashier Lucy Mae Barlow were named in indictments returned Monday by a grand jury in Roanoke Circuit Court.

Willis is accused of taking $900 during the past 10 months. Barlow was charged in a four-count indictment with embezzling $7,084 from March 1991 until the shortage was discovered last month.

The money has been paid back, according to Chief Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Betty Jo Anthony.

The missing money was from ticket sales and operating funds at the box office, Anthony said.

Bob Chapman, manager of the civic center, said several bookkeeping changes have been made since the shortage was discovered - including more frequent audits of the box office.

The office's policy had called for internal audits each Monday morning or the next working day after a concert or event. Chapman declined to comment on why those audits did not reveal any discrepancies.

An outside check by the municipal auditor - called in after questions arose from a January concert by country band Alabama - discovered the missing money. The money was not involved with the Alabama concert, however, Anthony said.

Willis, 46, and Barlow, 48, are both from Roanoke and had worked at the civic center for more than 30 years between them.

Both women were suspended with pay after the shortage was discovered in March. Willis since has resigned, Anthony said. Barlow's status was not known; Chapman declined to comment on "personnel matters."

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