Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 24, 1994 TAG: 9403240199
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The report by Rockbridge County's Commonwealth Attorney Eric Sisler would conclude a four-month investigation into the accounting procedures of Bedford County Sheriff Carl Wells. State officials allege that Wells commingled his personal funds with his employees' payroll.
On Monday night, Sisler met with the county Board of Supervisors in a closed-door session. The supervisors and Sisler have declined to comment on those discussions.
On Wednesday morning, Sisler flew out of Roanoke Regional Airport and is not expected to return until April 11. He left instructions with his staff not to comment on the report's location.
Circuit Judge William Sweeney said he was not even sure the report had been mailed.
"It could come in the mail tomorrow, or it could come next week," he said, adding that he would be one of the first people to receive it because he was the person who assigned Sisler to the case.
Sweeney said he plans to review Sisler's findings and file the document, or portions of it, with the county Circuit Court clerk. Any background information not relevant to criminal matters would not be released to the public, he said.
As for whether criminal charges might be filed, Board of Supervisors Chairman James Teass said that is "always a possibility."
"It could be, but we can wait and see," he said. "Whatever is done will be done by the prosecuting attorney."
As of late Wednesday, no report was forthcoming. And some officials at the courthouse said they were a bit overwhelmed by what they described as a media frenzy, at least for Bedford County.
"I was very surprised to drive in this morning and see all this action," Sweeney said of the reporters who were camped out on the courthouse steps.
"It really has been a zoo," said Joan Holshouser of the county court's counselor unit.
by CNB