BEND, Ore. — A Deschutes County Sheriff’s captain faces federal charges that he stole more than $200,000 from the county, then turned over much of it to an ex-sheriff’s worker with whom he had a romantic relationship, investigators say.
Scott Beard was arrested and fired Friday, two days after a grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging him with theft, money laundering and passport fraud, The Bulletin newspaper reported. He was jailed pending a Monday court appearance.
Beard, 45, is accused of stealing the money between January 2014 and September 2015, when he was put on paid administrative leave. Investigators say he sometimes submitted overstated or fake funding requests for a regional drug task force he oversaw.
His attorney, Erick Ward, did not immediately return an email from The Associated Press seeking comment Saturday.
Beard gave at least $100,000 to former sheriff’s office employee Krista Mudrick, 35, the indictment says. She faces a single count of lying to investigators.
In October, Mudrick denied in interviews with FBI and IRS agents that she had a romantic relationship with Beard and that he had paid for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle for her and a trip abroad, the indictment says. Beard paid $6,700 in cash for the motorcycle, according to the charges.
Authorities said some of the money was spent on cosmetic surgeries for Mudrick.
Mudrick told The Bulletin she wanted the public to know she was “a good person” who accepted “help” from Beard.
An internal audit showed the county money was missing.
Beard was promoted to captain in 2012, a decade after he joined the sheriff’s office as a deputy.
Mudrick, who served as a reserve deputy, civil technician, and field law enforcement technician, has also been terminated. She too faces a court appearance Monday.
Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson said Friday he wants only the best employees working for the office.
“We will root out those employees that don’t follow our mission and values,” he told The Bulletin.
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