Jackson's Gap fires clerk

Teresa Freeman let go for "dereliction of duties" after audit found missing tickets, record

By Katie Cole (Contact) | Dadeville Record

Published Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The Jackson’s Gap Town Council voted Tuesday night to fire town clerk Teresa Freeman for “dereliction of duties.”

Mayor J.D. Ayers recommended the action after the council met in executive session with auditor Ben Vance of Vance and Associates of Columbus, Ga., regarding missing money that was revealed during an ongoing audit. Ayers said the audit revealed missing records and tickets and purchases made by Freeman at VictoryLand and women’s clothing stores.

Freeman, 58, was arrested on March 1 and charged with first-degree theft of property for allegedly stealing more than $2,500 from the Town of Jackson’s Gap. She served as town clerk for almost 20 years.

Vance said the investigation began last year when the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts was contacted because the Town of Jackson’s Gap had failed to pay money collected in traffic court to several state departments. The audit revealed that while ticket payments had been recorded, there is no documentation the money was sent to the proper departments or deposited in the town’s bank account.

Vance said the mayor contacted his firm after the initial audit by the state examiners. The town is currently trying to reconstruct missing files and tickets for insurance claims, Vance said.

“We haven’t released the audit yet,” Vance said. “There are still some issues that are outstanding. There’s some documentation we need to get as far as other potential shortages.”

Freeman was released from the Tallapoosa County jail on March 1 on $10,000 bond. She will be arraigned on March 22 and a trial date has been set for June 14.

Ayers said the town will begin advertising this week for the clerk position.

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