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December 17, 2009

Ex-county employee indicted on charges of theft, tampering

By Nathan Straus

nstraus@jacksonvilleprogress.com



Carl Phillips, former director of the Cherokee County Supervision and Corrections Department, was arrested Dec. 10. His charges included theft by a public servant, tampering with governmental record and application of property by a fiduciary.

Released the same day as his arrest on a $25,000 bond, Phillips’ alleged crimes occurred some time near and between Jan. 4, 1999, and July 15, 2009, according to the three-count indictment.

John Raffield, county sheriff’s investigator, said Phillips was issued a credit card through the state for department use. He said Phillips began using the card for personal items at between $20,000 and just under $100,000. Raffield said these included gasoline, dental services, cell phone services, musical instruments, sporting event tickets, recovery debt services, household utilities and more.

As stated by the indictment, Phillips “intentionally impair(ed) the availability of a governmental record” by shredding, secreting or destroying credit card receipts and/or statements near Jan. 4, 2002, through July 15 of this year. Raffield said he got the case Aug. 26.

Raffield stated Phillips’ alleged misconduct cropped up after an employee reported it during Phillips’ time with the county. He added certain repayments were made, but Phillips continued using the card without anything else being mentioned.

“I don’t know if he would have never been caught,” Raffield said. “It would’ve taken some kind of audit, and previous audits didn’t catch it.”

He said the incidents reappeared after Phillips’ retirement, which came this summer and ended his service of more than 30 years to the county. Raffield said an employee spoke to Tommy Kerzee, Phillips’ successor, and informed him of these events. At that point, Kerzee worked with the district attorney’s office and Randy Hatch, a DA investigator, Raffield said.

Dates for arraignment or pre-trial had not been set as of Thursday.

Phillips’ attorney, Chris Day, of Jacksonville, did not return calls made to his office Thursday afternoon.

Elmer Beckworth, the prosecutor slated for the case, said county judges who preside over the case may recuse themselves.

“We will probably need a visiting judge,” Beckworth said.

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