Jailed Franklin Co. administrator may have stolen more than $1 million
Dennis Huston
A Franklin County senior administrator suspected of first degree theft and money laundering is being held on $500,000 bail.
Prosecutors say they believe Dennis Huston stole more than $1 million while working as the county's director of accounting and administration - a position he held for more than 20 years.
During his first court appearance today, the judge decided there is probable cause to hold him in jail.
According to court documents, Huston created fraudulent invoices and presented them for payment for parts and services.
But the invoices were from Critzer Equipment, a company that has been closed since 2001.
Prosecutors say they asked for the $500,000 bail amount because this isn't the first time Huston has been involved in the theft of public funds.
They say in the late 1980s, Huston was convicted of a similiar theft in Montana.
"It does involve a substantial amount of money, there's a question, the investigation is ongoing, we don't know where those assets are, the person could have access to those funds. And based on a lot of criteria, we don't want to have someone flee the area and avoid apprehension" said Shawn Sant, Franklin County Prosecutor.
Police say Huston admitted to creating the false invoices after he was arrested.
According to court documents, Huston said he was using the money for drugs.
When he was arrested, officers found cocaine in his possession.
Huston is being held in the Franklin County Jail on three felony charges: first degree theft, money laundering and possession of a controlled substance.
Nine other county employees are still on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues, though they are not being accused of anything illegal.
The theft largely surrounds the county's Public Works Department.
The department was open today after being closed yesterday.
Franklin County is bringing in an engineer from Benton County to help get the department's work back on track.