Pre-preliminary hearings have been continued for two of three former officials with the City of Tryon facing embezzlement and conspiracy charges as the result of a special investigative audit have made their initial appearances and their pre-preliminary hearings have been scheduled.
The audit was released in February of this year. Pre-preliminary hearings have been continued until 1:30 p.m., Oct. 13, for former Police Chief Jered Dewayne Prickett, 47, and Candace Marie Prickett, 47, who was Clerk-Treasurer.
Jered Prickett also was the Animal Control Officer and the Tryon Utility Authority utility operator, the information states.
Two charges of embezzlement and one for conspiracy were filed in Lincoln County District Court May 10 against former Police Chief Jered Dewayne Prickett, 47. A $10,000 warrant was originally issued for him.
It was returned and he made his initial appearance July 7 before Special Judge Emily Mueller. She ordered him to return Sep. 15 for his pre-preliminary hearing and to have an attorney.
One charge of embezzlement and one for conspiracy were filed the same day in Lincoln County District Court against Candace Marie Prickett, 47, who was Clerk-Treasurer. She also served as Utility assistant. She had a $10,000 warrant seeking her arrest but a $10,000 promise to appear bond was filed.
She also appeared before Judge Mueller on July 7 and she, too, was ordered back in court on Sep. 15 for her pre-preliminary hearing and to have an attorney.
One charge of embezzlement and conspiracy was filed on May 10 in Lincoln County District Court against Jessica Turpin who served as the Utility Clerk and the Court Clerk in Tryon. A $7,500 warrant originally was issued for her arrest.
Court records show that Turpin made her initial appearance on June 30 before Judge Mueller and her prepreliminary is set for Aug. 18.
On that date, Judge Mueller continued that hearing also until Oct. 13.
She also was a utility operator for Tryon’s Utility Authority, according to the information.
The information contained in an affidavit filed in the case by James M. Hendrickson, a DistrictAttorney investigator, states, “All three of these were employees who performed essential town functions and were primarily responsible for the Town’s day-to-day operations.”