The plea deal calls for
a 10-year sentence with most of that time being probated. Turpin is to
serve 60 days in jail followed by 120 days on house arrest. Under the
terms of probation, Turpin will only be allowed to leave home to
attend church.
As part of the
agreement Turpin most also repay $75,000 to the insurance company that
had underwritten her work as an elected official. She must also repay
restitution amounting to $64,986 to the county.
A grand jury charged
that in her first year in office in 2007, Turpin stole $87,056 — more
than her annual salary of $76,000 — and that she took $52,930 in 2008.
Turpin had been a
deputy clerk in the office for several years before winning the
clerk's job in 2006. The following year a grand jury charged that she
had stolen at least $87,000 during her first year in office and that
she took $52,930 in 2008. Turpin’s annual salary was $75,000.
Auditors said Turpin
ran up a deficit in her office of $139,986 in 2007 and 2008. More than
$118,000 of the shortfall happened because the office took in money
but didn't deposit it in the bank, audits showed.
Auditors also said
Turpin had more than $21,000 in spending that was poorly documented or
not proper, including thousands in payments to her husband for work he
allegedly did at her office, such as painting and cleaning.
Turpin was indicted in
August but had stayed on the job until October 20. In March of this
year former
Wayne County employee Heather
Piercy filed a civil suit against Turpin, Wayne County Fiscal Court, and members of the court individually, alleging that she
was fired from her job after she reported suspicions that the clerk
improperly paid her husband with taxpayer money. The suit makes
reference to "several disturbing checks written from the Wayne County
Court to Mr. Glenn Turpin, the husband of the defendant, Melissa
Turpin."
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Wayne
County Clerk Steals $140,000 Gets 60 Days Jail
