Probable Cause Found During Preliminary Hearing of Former Curtiss Municipal Employee
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 -- 8:17 AM
-Probable cause was found during a preliminary hearing involving a former Village of Curtiss municipal employee charged with theft and misconduct in office.At the end of 2013, it was discovered that 75-year-old Arlan Hamm, former President of Curtiss, as well as 66-year-old Deborah Krauter, former Clerk of Curtiss, allegedly gave themselves a raise that the board never approved. The two individuals would cover up the incident by creating fake documents, fail to bring documents to meetings or approve documents without following protocol.
After hearing from two witnesses, Randall Busse, Curtiss? current Village President, and Jason Bourget, a Detective with the Clark County Sheriff?s Department, probable cause was found.
Busse said they never saw the minutes from the meeting the two individuals were given the raise and Detective Bourget said that, at first, Hamm denied everything and said that protocol was followed. He later admitted to taking the money, knowing it was wrong and offered to pay it back. Detective Bourget also said that Hamm felt that taking that money was justified because of all the work he did for the city.
Hamm?s arraignment was held off for the time being and Krauter will appear in court today to have future court dates set.
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