The Alexander City Outlook

Examiners give Coosa sheriff clean audit

A public audit of the Coosa County Sheriff’s Department found no budget discrepancies, according to a report released by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

Coosa County Sheriff Terry Wilson said the clean report is the result of hard work by his staff to manage the department effectively and transparently.

“I’m real proud of my staff and how they did. Everybody throughout my office has tried to do everything the state requires,” Wilson said. “I began my office and my team trying to make sure (everything) works the way it’s supposed to work.”

Coosa County is still feeling the repercussions from its last audit of the sheriff’s department.

In the fall of 2007 the public examiners department found that former Coosa County Sheriff Ricky Owens owed the sheriff’s department $49,000 for funds he allegedly used without following proper procedures, according to a March 2008 article from The Alexander City Outlook.

Owens was indicted by a grand jury and his trial is scheduled to begin Monday, according to Coosa County circuit clerk Jeff Wood. Wood said there is a chance the trial will be continued until the next term in August.

The sheriff oversees the operation and administration of the county jail, custody and feeding of county prisoners, jail store and telephone system and the Pistol Permit Fund. The audit, which takes place about every two years, examined cash receipts, disbursements and balances for the department.