Tippecanoe County-Today at approximately 10:00 a.m. at the Tippecanoe County Jail, Trooper A.J. Smith along with Trooper Detective Gregg Edwards read a warrant to Kerri L. Kinsey (Smith at the time of the Allegations), 50 of Lafayette, for Theft a Class C Felony. She was then booked and released on her own reconnaissance due to a health condition.
The Indiana State Police at Lafayette were notified in June of 2014 by Tippecanoe County Clerk Christa Coffey of deposits by Kerri L. Smith. The investigation was initiated when deposits by Smith to the bank were not matching up to deposit information at the office.
Trooper Detective Edwards with assistance from the Clerks’ Office and the State Board of Accounts audited records and determined the thefts started back in April of 2005 and continued through June of 2014. Nearly $300,000.00 had allegedly been taken in that time span. Because the theft occurred prior to the new felony law changes, Smith was charged with the Class C Felony over $100,000.00 taken.
The length of time for the investigation and charges being filed is due to a special prosecutor being assigned because the suspect was a county employee, the investigation of the case itself and the length of time it takes to audit the books of the County Clerks’ Office going back 10 years.
A picture may be obtained by contacting the Tippecanoe County Jail.
Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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