A former Dakota County probation officer is accused of spending work hours at a casino racetrack instead of being at work, according to criminal charges filed Friday.

Troy Dal Withers, 46, of Oakdale, faces two felony charges of theft by swindle of public funds. He is accused of filing false time and expense reports from June 2018 to February 2019 as he worked as a Dakota County Community Corrections probation agent. Withers resigned April 11.

“The theft of any amount of public funds is a very serious matter,” Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said in a statement.

Sheriff’s office investigators got a tip in February about a probation officer possibly filing false timekeeping records and mileage reimbursement claims. While probation officers do not keep set hours, they are required to work at least 80 hours every two weeks and maintain an electronic calendar of their hours and meetings with clients, according to the statement from Backstrom’s office.

Investigators found 15 occasions where Withers reported meeting clients or attending meetings that he did not actually attend, prosecutors said. And there were 10 occasions where he was at Running Aces casino and racetrack in Anoka County when his electronic calendar, time records or building access card said he was working.

Withers is set to make his first court appearance on July 1 in Hastings.

No attorney was immediately listed for Withers.