TROY — Kathleen Mattingly, 56, the former Troy clerk/treasurer, was arrested June 19 resulting from charges she allegedly stole just under $20,000 from the town, according to Waldo County Chief Deputy Jeffrey Trafton.

It was only after Mattingly resigned, ending her 14-month tenure with the town March 29, that the missing money was noticed. Detective Gerry Lincoln is the primary investigator, and the Sheriff's Office indicated Mattingly has been cooperative with the investigation.

Sharon Moody, who succeeded Mattingly, said the discrepancies were discovered by Keel Hood CPA of Fairfield, in an audit requested by the town after deposit amounts listed in its financial books did not match the amounts deposited to the bank. Moody said it was also discovered that Mattingly wrote $2,500 in checks herself during the six weeks prior to her resignation.

According to the Sheriff's Office, in a press release, the preliminary audit indicated at least $19,813 in questionable transactions and/or missing funds. Mattingly, a resident of Troy, has been charged with class B theft, a felony.

During a special town meeting June 17, voters approved spending $9,000 for computer software and training expenses so that the town can computerize its accounting functions, Moody said. She also indicated that residents were not informed about the financial discrepancies at the meeting.

Mattingly was taken to and processed at Waldo County Jail in Belfast, and was released on $10,000 unsecured bail, according to Trafton.

Troy, which has 1,030 residents, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, raised $798,000 in taxes last year.

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Reach Eric Thoms at news@penbaypilot.com.