Franklin county Commission decides against seeking state audit of Clerk of Courts office - for now

County commissioners have decided not to ask the state Auditor’s general office for an audit of the clerk of the courts office – at least not yet.

County Commissioner Pinki Jackel as well as the group “The Concerned citizens of Franklin County” have been requesting a thorough audit of the clerk’s office after an employee of a company called Florida Probation Services was arrested for pocketing possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars in Franklin County probation payments over a period of about 5 years.

The employee, Jennifer Brown, is the niece of the Clerk of the Court Marcia Johnson.

Miss Johnson reported the theft when she became aware of it – she told commissioners this week that she is not the defendant in this case but she feels like she is being treated like one.

The county commission said this week that it would allow its independent auditor, Roberson and Associates, to continue its regular financial audit of the clerk’s office along with all other county offices, before deciding whether to request a more specific audit of the clerk’s office.

Mister Roberson said he expects the audit to be complete in the next two months.

Commissioner Pinki Jackel said she has received over 60 e-mails supporting the audit from the Auditor’s general office, and she feels it is her job to ask the difficult questions.

She added that she feels the audit is now needed to restore the public trust in its local government.

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