TOLEDO – A city of Toledo clerk has been charged with two counts of theft on accusations she re-directed utility payments to herself and family members and made unauthorized purchases using the city employees union debit card.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Janet L. Elmore, 47, on Feb. 20 at her home in Toledo. She was charged with first-degree theft on Thursday and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Lincoln County circuit court.
Toledo city manager Doug Wiggins said Elmore was placed on leave when the theft issues came to light in December and then fired in January when the sheriff’s investigation concluded.
Probable cause affidavits filed in circuit court by sheriff’s Detective Anthony Bettencourt said as the city’s utility billing clerk Elmore over 1½ years “manipulated and attempted to conceal taking the money and applying it to her and family members accounts to pay their own utility bills.” Bettencourt also said Elmore removed late fees from her and her family members accounts.
The amount was more than $4,000, the detective wrote, saying that he used documents, paperwork and computer logs and entries to support the allegations.
While investigating the utility bill allegations, Bettencourt said he also discovered that Elmore made unauthorized transactions using a bank debit card belonging to the city of Toledo Employees Association. She was the union’s treasurer.
Bettencourt alleged that Elmore made 47 unauthorized personal purchases or transfers to her own account totaling more than $9,400 between April 2022 and December 2023.
“In a prior related case, Janet (Elmore) denied the theft and she was unable to explain any of the events no did she provide any reasons for the events,” Bettencourt wrote in the second probable cause affidavit. “This case was not known of during the prior case questioning.”
Elmore has been released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to be arraigned on the theft charge Monday.
In a news release Feb. 21 after Elmore’s arrest, Wiggins said the theft issues were discovered in December during an internal audit and that the city immediately contacted the sheriff’s office. Wiggins said victims of the theft have been notified and their accounts credited or refunded.
“We are deeply disappointed and saddened by these actions, as they go against the values and principles we strive to uphold,” Wiggins said in the release. “The city of Toledo would like to reassure our citizens that the city council, mayor and staff take this matter very seriously and are committed to maintaining the integrity and security of our government finances.”