Full Notification

(Etowah County, Alabama) A Gadsden man has been arrested and charged in connection to fraudulent theft, according to Sheriff Todd Entrekin.

“Michael Jason Gladden, 40, of Gadsden, was arrested on Tuesday, February 10, and charged with one count of first degree theft by deception, a felony, and twelve counts of failing to file a required report, which are misdemeanors,” says Sgt. Josh Morgan.

Gladden allegedly took $40,207.38 in deceptive payments from the Etowah County Commission. During his tenure as Etowah County coroner he submitted falsified mileage information and received the monies in exchange for duties he did not perform.

He also knowingly failed to file the monthly report of deaths in Etowah County dating back to January 2014. The reports are required by law and are to be filed with the Alabama Department of Public Health.

“The investigation began when family members of the deceased questioned the length of time it was taking to receive results from toxicology reports,” says Sheriff Entrekin. “Through the inquiry of the complaints the deceptive theft of monies and failure to file reports were discovered.”

District Attorney Jimmie Harp adds, “I appreciate the efforts of investigators with the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office, State Bureau of Investigation and District Attorney’s office for their work in this case.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Gladden was booked into the Etowah County Detention Center and later released on $6,200 bond.

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