ms state auditor stacey pickering releases prosecutorial timeline on ashley palmertree
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MS State Auditor Stacey Pickering releases prosecutorial timeline on Ashley PalmertreeTRANSCRIPT
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TIMELINE
August 19, 1995 Larry Ashley asks for AG Opinion about family member working on
payroll of Circuit Clerk’s office.
March 8, 2005 OSA received complaint that Larry Ashley had misspent public funds.
June 9, 2005 OSA received first complaint that Palmertree had been misspending
public funds.
May 20, 2010 OSA meeting with Palmertree, Ashley & Penley regarding questionable
expenditures.
March 3, 2011 OSA received second complaint that Palmertree had been misspending
public funds.
August 11, 2011 OSA letter to Buck Penley proposing counter-settlement; also refers to
findings in audits.
August 17, 2011 Letter from Buck Penley accepting settlement; discusses issues of family
members working for Palmertree.
February 16, 2012 Letter from John Smith to Palmertree as receipt for funds from old
accounts.
July 2, 2012 OSA issued closure letter for former Circuit Clerk Larry Ashley.
August 7, 2012 OSA received third complaint concerning Palmertree’s misappropriation
of funds from civil and criminal court accounts.
September 10, 2012 OSA agents met with Palmertree and attorney and provided information
of the over $650,000 she owed.
January 14, 2013 Letter from Penley to the Board of Supervisors proposing that Palmertree
pay $50,000 per year to pay off $402,000, the amount of over-the-cap
fees owed by Palmertree that OSA had previously provided to the Board
as owed by Circuit Clerk Palmertree.
February 6, 2013 Warren County Board of Supervisors Demand Letter for $649,406.00 to
Palmertree--results of OSA investigation that determined this amount of
money was owed by Palmertree.
February 21, 2013 Warren County Board of Supervisors issued letter of rejection of
Palmertree’s offer to pay $50,000 per year.
March 5, 2013 State Auditor’s Formal Demand Letter for $661,751.75; hand-delivered
on Palmertree.
March 20, 2013 Palmertree filed Petition for Declaratory Judgment against the State
Auditor and the Warren County Board of Supervisors.
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March 22, 2013 Ashley issued letter to Board of Supervisors demanding overpaid fees of
$255,776, plus interest of $347,826.48, for a total of $663,602.48.
April 15, 2013 OSA Answer to Complaint filed, including Joinder of Additional Parties
and Counterclaim.
June 13, 2013 Western Surety issued letter to Palmertree giving notice of intent to
cancel her bond.
August 6, 2013 Palmertree indicted by Warren County Grand Jury; prosecution handled
by AG.
August 16, 2013 State Auditor issued second Formal Demand against Palmertree for
$156,500.00 for funds in excess of fee cap; hand-delivered against
Palmertree.
December 2-4, 2013 Trial of civil expenditures by Warren County Circuit Clerk begins in
Hinds County Chancery Court; facts related to previous civil demands
are presented to the Court.
April 14-17, 2014 Continuing civil trial in Hinds County Chancery Court.
January 22, 2014 Palmertree reindicted on same charges in Warren County; case handled
by AG.
January 23, 2014 Palmertree was arrested and processed at the Warren County Sheriff’s
Office by OSA agents; she was later released on bond.
April 10, 2014 Mississippi Supreme Court denied the Interlocutory Appeal filed by
Warren County Circuit Clerk Shelly Ashley-Palmertree. The three-
member panel of Justices agreed with an earlier Hinds County Chancery
Court ruling restricting Palmertree from using taxpayer money to pay her
attorneys’ fees.
May 15, 2014 OSA agents presented findings of an investigation relating to Palmertree
living in Madison County. An Affidavit of Residency from Madison
County Schools signed by Palmertree was presented to the Warren
County Board of Supervisors. Palmertree was removed from office by
Board of Supervisors for living outside Warren County.
May 21, 2014 OSA issued a third Formal Demand against Palmertree for $229,880.01
for excess fees taken out of her civil and criminal court accounts.
September 29, 2014 Palmertree pled guilty to three counts of embezzlement. Special
Appointed Circuit Judge Lackey sentenced Palmertree to three ten years
sentences in custody of the MDOC with five years to serve on each and
the remaining five years suspended. The sentences are to run
concurrently. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of
$12,000.
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October 3, 2014 Palmertree held in Contempt of Court in Warren County Court for failing
to disburse funds held for a litigant pursuant to a court order.
December 3, 2014 Palmertree indicted by the Warren County Grand Jury; prosecution
handled by the District Attorney.
January 13, 2015 Continuing civil trial in Hinds County Chancery Court.
March 30, 2015 Palmertree pleads guilty to embezzlement in Warren County Circuit
Court and was sentenced to ten years in custody of the MDOC with five
years to serve and five suspended, to run concurrently. She was ordered
to pay $20,000 at sentencing, turn over the $19,542.99 in her criminal
account, and pay the balance of $67,164.64 in monthly installments of
$1250.00 beginning May 10, 2015.
March 31, 2015 Agreed Judgment entered against Shelly Ashley-Palmertree for
$818,251.75 in Hinds County Chancery Court civil case. The remaining
issue to be resolved is the liability of bond company for $300,000 for
three terms in office. An additional bond of $100,000 for her last year in
office is liable for third Formal Demand issued on May 21, 2014.