Comer Woman Faces Twelve Counts of Forgery and Other Charges in Oconee

A former bookkeeper for Garland & Associates Contractors, Inc. is facing multiple charges related to the embezzlement of funds from the company's bank account.

According to investigator Guy Brown of the Oconee County Sheriff's Office, Sharon M. Jacobs, 32, of Comer, turned herself into the Oconee County Jail on Feb. 17. 

Jacobs was hired by the company in June 2008, he explained, and in September 2011, a problem was discovered.  

"There was a discrepency in [the company's] checking account," he said. "They started doing some digging into it and realized they were out about $200,000."

At least 72 checks were found to have been forged and deposited into 12 of Jacobs' personal accounts between November 2009 and September 2011,  he said.  Brown said she was terminated at that time.

In December, the company filed a report and investigators with Sheriff's Office worked the case.

At first the company tried to work out a deal with Jacobs because she had been a close friend with the owner, Brown said.  She paid back around $80,000 but in the end her former employer decided it was necessary to press charges, he said. 

Booking reports show Jacobs is charged with identity fraud, theft by taking, and twelve counts of forgery in the first degree.