Another Jackson County Embezzlement Charge Investigation By Auditor Pickering Results In An Arrest

State Auditor Stacey Pickering, center, speaks at a press event
Tuesday at the Jackson County Courthouse in Pascagola with
Jackson County District Attorney Tony Lawrence, left, and
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd.

Seems like the State Auditor has been busy on the Gulf Coast for the past several months, and the work is now bearing fruit. This is the second announcement of an arrest in as many days.

Former court clerk Diehl surrenders to police
Former Pascagoula court clerk Rhonda Diehl surrendered to authorities after being indicted on three counts of embezzlement, Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said this morning.

A city employee for 25 years, Diehl is accused of stealing a total of $17,175 over a three-year period while serving as the city's court clerk. She resigned in January, Pascagoula Police Chief Kenny Johnson said, at the conclusion of their investigation.


The city began an internal investigation after noticing irregularities in the city court funds. They called on Jackson County District Attorney Tony Lawrence and State Auditor Stacey Pickering to assist in the investigation, which ultimately led to authorities identifying Diehl as a suspect.


The city, Johnson said, has since put in place additional precautionary measures to "quickly" detect any type of embezzlement involving city funds.


As for Diehl's arrest, Johnson said, "it's a shame."


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A report this morning on yesterday's arrest in the Mississippi Press said:

There are two other pending embezzlement cases in Jackson County.


One involves two suspects and an undisclosed amount of misappropriated money from the Jackson County Fair Commission, which Pickering said he could not comment on because the investigation was ongoing. The missing funds were discovered in August 2009.

Sounds like we can expect at least one more arrest, and another very big feather for the Auditor's cap.