August 26, 2020 - The Shelby County Commissioners approved for the County Auditor to conduct an audit of the District Attorney Forfeiture/Seizure funds during their meeting held Wednesday morning, August 26, 2020.
According to the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the audit, "All law enforcement agencies and attorneys representing the state who receive proceeds or property under this chapter shall account for the seizure, forfeiture, receipt, and specific expenditure of all the proceeds and property in an audit, which is to be performed annually by the commissioners court or governing body of a municipality, as appropriate. The annual period of the audit for a law enforcement agency is the fiscal year of the appropriate county or municipality and the annual period for an attorney representing the state is the state fiscal year."
County Attorney Gary Rholes stated, "I hear they might try to get rid of that the next session, or require a conviction before you get the money, seizure money."
Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, commented there is a lot of it, suggesting there is a lot of money currently held by the county subject to seizure.
"It needs to all be done per law, by code and it needs to be done timely too as far as I'm concerned," said County Judge Allison Harbison. "I don't know whether it is or not, but I'm just saying that we have a lot in there and I really think it should move a little bit faster than that."
She said she hopes everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing lawfully.
A motion carried to approve the County Auditor to conduct audit of District Attorney Forfeiture/Seizure funds per code of criminal procedure 59.06(g)(1).
Agenda items approved during the meeting inlcude: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. County Auditor to conduct audit of District Attorney Forfeiture/Seizure funds per code of criminal procedure 59.06(g)(1).. 3. Adjourn.
