Bonner To Stop Paying Treasurer Pending Charges County Can’t Fire Elected Official Suspected Of Embezzlement

Bonner County Treasurer Karen Weldon, who is suspected of embezzling up to $18,000 of taxpayer money, will lose her salary at the end of the week.

Weldon, 44, is under investigation by the state and was placed on 30 days’ paid medical leave last month.

Her paid leave expires Friday, and commissioners plan to grant her another leave of absence but without pay.

“We haven’t heard yet if the state plans to file charges against her. But with the possibility of charges pending, we don’t think it would be appropriate at this point to continue to pay her,” Commissioner Dale Van Stone said.

Weldon earns $31,500 annually as treasurer. She has not been allowed in the courthouse since her leave began and turned in her keys to the treasurer’s office.

At this point, commissioners are not able to fire Weldon or appoint a replacement because she is an elected official.

“If embezzlement charges are filed, we have the option of suspending her, or she could resign,” Van Stone said. “Right now everything is up in the air.”

Commissioners don’t expect the state attorney general’s office to wrap up its investigation for several weeks. The county’s books already have been audited several times and commissioners confirmed that between $12,000 and $18,000 is missing.

If Weldon, a Republican, is charged and suspended or chooses to resign, the county’s Republican Central Committee would help select a replacement.

The committee would submit three names to the county. The commissioners then would appoint one to fill the remaining two years of Weldon’s term.

“If that process does take place it won’t happen until the end of June or July,” Van Stone said.

Weldon first was elected treasurer in 1990 and was re-elected in 1994.

County officials began investigating Weldon in February after noticing some irregularities in expenses she submitted.

Later, an informal audit of the county books revealed several thousand dollars missing in the treasurer’s office. The county then called in the prosecutor and state investigators to handle the case.

, DataTimes