JACKSON – Multiple subjects that were part of four separate investigations at the state auditor’s office had their day in court this week, the office announced in a press release.Additionally, a former office manager for Clarksdale Public Utilities was arrested and served with a demand.

Essie Adams, a former deputy clerk with the Tallahatchie County tax collector’s office, pleaded  guilty to one count of embezzlement and was sentenced to five years, suspended, with 18 months of supervised probation. 

Adams was arrested by OSA Special Agents and served with a demand in the amount of $4,338 in June, after it was discovered she was pocketing funds that were received as tax payments from property owners in Tallahatchie County. Restitution has been paid in full by Adams’ bonding company and returned to the Tallahatchie County tax collector’s office.

Willie Alexander, the former transportation director of the Shaw School District, pleaded guilty to 1 count of embezzlement and was sentenced to two years of probation, $1,000 fine, and ordered to pay restitution of $3,585. His sentence is non-adjudicated. Alexander was arrested and served with a demand in the amount of $4,142 in October after an investigation uncovered he was using the Shaw School District’s Fuelman card to purchase food, beer, and cigarettes. 

Maple Melton, the former business office manager for Clarksdale Public Utilities, was arrested and served with a demand in the amount of $3,871, after she was indicted on nine counts of embezzlement by a Coahoma County Grand Jury. The investigation showed Melton transferred credits to her personal and friends’ utility accounts.

Greta Patterson, the former municipal court clerk for the City of McComb, pleaded guilty to a bill of information and was sentenced to 10 years, eight years suspended, two to be served on house arrest, and five years of supervised probation. 

Patterson embezzled from the McComb Municipal Court by taking cash from daily collections and then manipulating the handwritten daily revenue report to match her daily bank deposit. The restitution portion of her sentencing will be continued until Feb. 4, 2016.