Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the indictment and arrest of Diann Taylor, the former town clerk for the town of Akron, in Hale County, on theft and ethics charges. Taylor, 42, who served as town clerk until November 2020, surrendered to authorities on Wednesday and was released on bond.
The indictment charges Taylor with three counts:
• Intentionally using her official position as the Town Clerk of Akron to access the town’s public library bank account to receive up to $115,184.40 in either cash or debit card purchases for herself, a family member, or business with which she was associated.
• Theft of up to $115,184.40.
• Making a false statement to an employee of the Alabama Ethics Commission.
If convicted, Taylor faces a maximum penalty of between two-and-20 years imprisonment for each of the first two criminal charges and up to one year for the ethics charge.
An audit released last year by the Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts detailed irregularities with Akron’s books during the period from Aug. 1, 2017 through Oct. 31, 2020.
Following that audit, official demand was made requesting a repayment of $107,382.63 from Taylor.
Auditors said appropriations from the Alabama Public Library Service, Hale County Commission, ad valorem tax proceeds, and other funds were deposited into the town library’s bank account, including $94,614.98 that appeared to be payments from town residents for their monthly water bills. Those funds, in particular, should have been deposited to the town’s Water and Sewage Revenue account.
The auditors said funds were then used for various purposes, including $77,301.83 in cash withdrawals from ATMs, $15,818.74 in purchases at retail stores, and $6,713.32 at gas stations and convenience stores.
“The former Municipal Clerk failed to appear at a meeting before the Chief Examiner and show just cause why the amounts should not be repaid; therefore, relief is accordingly denied as evidenced by the Order of the Chief Examiner contained in this report. The charges remain due and unpaid, and, as a result, this report will be certified to the Attorney General and District Attorney for collection. The case is being prosecuted by the Alabama Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division with the assistance of the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts and the Alabama Ethics Commission,” read the audit.
No further information about the investigation or about the defendant’s alleged crimes may be released at this time, said Marshall’s office.
