BURNETT COUNTY — A criminal complaint has been filed in Burnett County Circuit Court charging former Town Clerk Lynn Harmon, of Grantsburg, WI, with Class H Felony Uttering a Forgery.
Harmon was employed as the Grantsburg Town Clerk and Treasurer from December 2018 through June 2019, when she gave notice that she was quitting.
The Burnett County Sheriff’s Department received a report from the Grantsburg Town Chairman following Harmon’s resignation, stating that a review of bank statements indicated discrepancies in some transactions that Harmon had conducted.
At least two checks were allegedly identified as having been issued to Harmon, without the proper approval process. The signatures on the checks did not match prior signatures for an approved payee, according to the criminal complaint.
Bank records also allegedly showed that during the term of Harmon’s employment, the Township’s bank account was overdrawn, and Federal taxes were not paid on time, resulting in IRS bills for the Township.
Law enforcement also received statements indicating that cash belonging to the Township was missing.
An interview was conducted with Harmon, during which she explained what her duties were during her term of employment, and also advised that she was no longer employed with the Town of Grantsburg.
When Law Enforcement asked Harmon about the checks with the questionable signatures, she allegedly stated that she had signed them using another person’s name who was approved to sign checks. She went on to say that she was sorry and that she did it because she was “hurting so bad”; going on to say that she used the money for groceries. Harmon denied taking any cash belonging to the Township, according to the criminal complaint.
If convicted of the charge of Class H Felony Uttering a Forgery, Harmon will face a possible maximum sentence of imprisonment for 6 years, a maximum fine of $10,000, or both.
Online circuit court records show that Harmon was placed on a $500 cash bail bond at a July 17, 2019 hearing and on August 19, she entered a plea of Not Guilty to the charges. Harmon is scheduled to appear again in September 2019.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Aug 30, 2019 8:55 am CDT
