City official investigated for thefts

CLARK FORK - A former assistant clerk is under investigation for allegedly embezzling cash from the city.

Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall confirmed on Thursday that former city employee Sandy J. Brockus has been identified as the suspect in the thefts.

"No charges have been filed at this time, but it is anticipated that charges for the misuse of public funds will be forthcoming," Marshall said in a statement.

The amount of misappropriated funds was not disclosed on Thursday. Under Idaho law, misuse of public funds can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the amount involved and other circumstances.

"It's not a super-large amount, but it's not a small amount either," Mayor Tom Shields said on Wednesday.

Shields said the city was coming up short on funds it collects from water customers and video surveillance equipment was set up at City Hall to get to the bottom of the problem. He said the theft was not an isolated incident.

"It was more than one (incident) before we finally got it on tape," he said.

Shields said Brockus is no longer employed with the city and evidence of the thefts was given to authorities earlier this month.

"The city turned everything over to the prosecutor and the sheriff's office, so that's where it's at right now," said Councilman Russ Schenck, who had no further comment.

Repeated calls to Brockus' Clark Fork home on Thursday night were met with busy signals.

Documents in 1st District Court show two civil judgments against Brockus for unpaid credit and medical bills.

Shields said Brockus confessed to committing the thefts when questioned by sheriff's investigators.