Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 30, 1994 TAG: 9403300171
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER NOTE: Below
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``The board's chief concern remains the resolution of the question as to the ownership of the interest derived by the sheriff's payroll account,'' said board Chairman James A. Teass. ``I would think that the sheriff would cooperate in this matter. I have not talked with him personally.''
Wells and his attorney, John Alford of Lynchburg, did not return telephone calls Tuesday.
Wells' payroll practices have been the subject of a special prosecutor's investigation for five months. A county audit revealed that Wells commingled personal and public payroll funds in his checking account, apparently violating the law.
Wells has admitted commingling funds, but said he did so on the advice of a now-dead state auditor.
Each month, the sheriff deposited checks from Bedford County in amounts that ranged from $130,000 to $183,000 and wrote payroll checks to his employees. Wells also deposited his own payroll check into the account and paid household bills from it.
Bank records showed that the payroll - not Wells' personal funds - accrued more than $5,500 in interest during the three years ending in June. Wells has kept the interest.
On Monday, the supervisors agreed to hire attorney David W. Shreve of Altavista to file the civil lawsuit against Wells. Shreve said the lawsuit will not make any criminal allegations.
Shreve said the sheriff and the Board of Supervisors also disagree about how much money is at issue, but he would not elaborate.
He expects to file the suit in Bedford County Circuit Court by Friday.
by CNB