Thursday, August 17, 2006
News
Former drain commissioner arraigned
By ART BUKOWSKI Argus-Press Staff Writer
CORUNNA - Former Shiawassee County Drain Commissioner Bernard Butcher was arraigned Wednesday on embezzlement charges.
According to 66th District Court records, Butcher was arraigned on one count of embezzlement of more than $50 by a public official.
Detective Sgt. Mark Pendergraff of the Michigan State Police said the charge involves Butcher's collection of soil erosion fees while serving as drain commissioner between January 1993 and December 2004.
“It's the same thing Gary (Holzhausen) was doing - they would collect fees, submit them to the county, then turn around and submit a voucher to get the fees back,” he said. “Investigation shows that there was never any authorization for the drain commissioner to get those fees back.”
Pendergraff said the embezzlement charge takes into account a number of instances throughout Butcher's tenure.
Butcher, who was elected as drain commissioner in 1992, lost to Holzhausen in November 2004. He served as deputy drain commissioner under Drain Commissioner Gary Bendall from 1990 until 1992.
Butcher was released on a personal recognizance bond. His preliminary examination is set for Aug. 29 at 2 p.m.
According to 66th District Court records, Butcher was arraigned on one count of embezzlement of more than $50 by a public official.
Detective Sgt. Mark Pendergraff of the Michigan State Police said the charge involves Butcher's collection of soil erosion fees while serving as drain commissioner between January 1993 and December 2004.
“It's the same thing Gary (Holzhausen) was doing - they would collect fees, submit them to the county, then turn around and submit a voucher to get the fees back,” he said. “Investigation shows that there was never any authorization for the drain commissioner to get those fees back.”
Pendergraff said the embezzlement charge takes into account a number of instances throughout Butcher's tenure.
Butcher, who was elected as drain commissioner in 1992, lost to Holzhausen in November 2004. He served as deputy drain commissioner under Drain Commissioner Gary Bendall from 1990 until 1992.
Butcher was released on a personal recognizance bond. His preliminary examination is set for Aug. 29 at 2 p.m.