Bunker Hill – Yesterday, a criminal investigation by Indiana State Police Detective Mike Tarrh resulted in the arrest of Carenna Byers, 27, Kokomo, IN. Byers was formerly employed as a clerk for the Bunker Hill Town Court. She was arrested when officers from the Kokomo Police Department served her with with a Miami Superior Court II arrest warrant alleging 22 felony charges. Byers was incarcerated in the Miami County Jail to face 11 counts each for theft and forgery.
In April of 2014, Detective Tarrh started an investigation after an Indiana State Board of Accounts audit allegedly revealed missing funds in accounts controlled by the Bunker Hill Town Clerk’s Office.
The investigation revealed that Byers was hired as the court clerk in 2012. As part of her responsibilities, Byers was tasked to collect traffic citation fees paid to the court’s office. She was also required to deposit the collected fees into court bank accounts.
The investigation revealed that from June of 2013 until November 2013, Byers allegedly altered and cashed approximately 95 money orders totaling $14,346. She purportedly would add her name to money orders the public utilized to pay traffic citations. Byers purportedly would cash the money orders and utilize the money for personal use.
She is incarcerated in the Miami County Jail with a surety bond of $165,000.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
-30-
Slocum
