Former Tax Worker Will Face Trial on Theft Charges
By: Eric Deabill
Updated: October 17, 2012
Honesdale, Wayne County - A former county tax worker in Wayne County will be going to trial on theft charges.
Jeannie Brooks of Prompton appeared in court Wednesday morning for her preliminary hearing.
Brooks gave up her right to a hearing. That means the case against her will move forward.
People who live in Wayne County say it is upsetting to hear that a county worker is accused of violating the public trust.
"I'm surprised at how often, either a fire company or a township or something," Errol Flynn of Honesdale said. "We had a grocery store here in town where the bookkeeper took like $200,000 a few years ago. It just amazes me."
Investigators say while working in the Wayne County Tax Claim Bureau, she allegedly stole roughly $11,000 of taxpayer money.
"Somebody's overlooking something and not following through on their job to keep tabs on what is coming in and what is going out and how did it get so far," James House of Damascus said.
Brooks is accused of taking the money at various times this year when it was received from people paying their taxes.
"The people who work for a living in an honest job, the lower-middle class, is working honestly and they're getting ripped off still," House said.
Brooks is facing nearly 60 criminal counts of forgery, theft and tampering with public records.
Taxpayers want to know why she allegedly took the money.
"You feel terrible that it happened and you just wonder why. I don't know why it's happening, really I don't," Alice Williams of Honesdale said.
Brooks' attorney declined to comment on the case Wednesday.
Commissioners say Brooks is no longer a county employee.
She faces a formal arraignment date in November.
