Former sheriff arrested for theft

Former Poweshiek County Sheriff Tom Sheets was arrested for theft in the second degree, a Class D Felony, and held in the Poweshiek County Jail on Dec. 11, 2015.

According to the Iowa District Court for Poweshiek County, Robert Howard Sand, assistant attorney general for Iowa, will be the prosecuting attorney.

Sheets’ arraignment is set for Monday, Jan. 11 at 11:15 a.m.

According to the Trial Information document, “During 2007 through 2012, in Poweshiek County in the State of Iowa, the defendant did take possession of property of the State of Iowa with the intent to deprive thereof, or did misappropriate property which he had in his possession or control by disposing of it in a manner which is inconsistent with or a denial of the owner’s rights in such property, where the amount of money involved exceeds $1,000, to wit: Defendant repeatedly used the County’s gas card to purchase gas for personal use.”

The arrest stems from an investigation by the state auditor which was released on Nov.3, 2013, and reported on a review of the operations of the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office for the period Jan. 1, 2010 through March 31, 2013.

The review was requested by Poweshiek County officials as a result of concerns regarding the operations of the Sheriff’s Office and certain purchases and other financial transactions authorized by former Poweshiek County Sheriff Tom Sheets.

Mary Mosiman, the auditor of the state, reported the review identified a total loss to Poweshiek County of approximately $312,550, which included:

-- $290,636 of room and board fees which were billed by the Jail Administrator at rates less than approved by the Board of Supervisors;

--$13,635 of fees collected by the former sheriff for teaching gun permit classes which were not deposited to the county;

-- $6,891.85 of improper disbursements, including $6,150 of estimated excess fuel purchases, $661.80 of improper credit card charges and $80.05 of unapproved purchases.

Moisman also reported the Jail Administrator did not bill all inmates for room and board fees.