Secretary Enters Witness Program

A former secretary of the Clearwater County flood control command office has moved elsewhere under the U.S. Justice Department’s victim and witness assistance program, officials say.

And the FBI has been notified of a reported break-in and theft of documents from the Orofino-area home of Kelley Worthington.

It comes on the heels of a July 18 surprise raid by agents of the Federal Emergency Management Agency at the command office.

Linda Hopfenbeck, who coordinates the witness program for the U.S. attorney’s office in Boise, described it as a temporary measure for people who “need help to move away from a threatening area.”

More than 40 boxes of documents have been seized, while county officials say they have no idea what the investigation is about. Clearwater County continues to seek up to $6 million flood repair reimbursement from FEMA after floodwaters ravaged homes and roads.

The supposed break-in occurred after Worthington’s attorney, Craig Mosman, confirmed a legal file with the name “Worthington” written on it was taken from his car, possibly while he was in Orofino.

At least two FBI agents have been conducting interviews in the area into alleged attempts to defraud the federal government.

Worthington, a single mother of two sons, had worked at the center with Sheriff Nick Albers, who was appointed incident commander of the effort.