Grand Jury indicts county clerk Rosanne Ward and husband Jerry Ward

Camden, TN - Benton County Clerk, Rosanne Ward and her husband Jerry Ward both of Camden, Tennessee, were indicted today by the Grand Jury of Benton County on two charges, one being a felony and the other a misdemeanor in relation to the audit findings from the Tennessee State Comptrollers office. In the audit it stated:

FINDING 04.08 - - THE CLERK PROCESSED A FRAUDULENT DOCUMENT

(Noncompliance Under Government Auditing Standards)

On April 8, 2004, Jerry Ward (husband of the county clerk) signed and submitted a document stating that he purchased a boat for $6,000. The clerk's signature was affixed to the document, and the sale was reported to the Tennessee Department of Revenue. The Department of Revenue noted that the reported sales price appeared to be significantly below market price for the boat, conducted an investigation, and discovered Mr. Ward had actually paid $21,500 for the boat.

The department then assessed Mr. Ward additional sales tax, penalty, and interest of $1,133.22 for the amount owed on the difference between the sales price reported to the department and the actual sales price. On September 8, 2004, Mr. Ward submitted payment of $1,133.22 to the Department of Revenue. We have reviewed this improper transaction with the district attorney general.

Mrs. Ward was taken from her office and arraigned in front of Judge Julian Guinn today and released. Mr. Ward was booked into the Benton County Sheriffs department later today and was released. No court date is known at this time. - Article by Joe Kyle. [Discuss this topic] Source: Kentucky Lake Times