Auditors Examine Claims of Embezzlment at Sheriff's Office

The Manatee County Clerk of Courts is examining financial records at the Manatee County jail after accusations of fraud and embezzelment were levied against top officials at the jail.

Clerk of Courts R.B. "Chips" Shore confirmed Tuesday that he is examining records at the Sheriff's Department.

Shore began his investigation after Charles Smith, a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and a Palmetto City Commissioner, detailed allegations Deputy David Livingston made to Internal Affairs detectives. Livingston, who worked at the jail, resigned soon after revealing his concerns.

The Herald-Tribune wrote:

In the letter, Smith asked Shore to review the "troubling concerns" about the potential misuse of taxpayer dollars raised by Livingston, who worked at the jail until he resigned shortly after making his allegations about misconduct there.

Smith wrote that Livingston's complaint included claims that deputies stole evidence from a storage facility, built a retention pond for employees and used equipment for "personal benefit while on duty."

Smith also wrote that Higginbotham retired "with no advance warning" and that Parks also might retire.

The Bradenton-Herald reported that Shores is only looking into allegations of embezzlement from the inmates' commissary funds. Millie Blevins, director of the clerk's internal audit department, and Tom Salisbury, sheriff's office comptroller, met Tuesday, according to that report.

Based on the results of those findings, Shore will decide whether to expand his investigation. No findings are expected to be released before Thursday.