Attorneys Make Appearances In Animal Shelter Director Case
Mahaska County Sheriff’s Department
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Attorneys in the Lindsey Sime case have made formal appearances and a February hearing has been set. Assistant Attorney General Scott Brown entered an appearance for the State of Iowa on January 27. Local defense attorney Diane Crookham-Johnson appeared on behalf of Sime on January 25. Sime is charged with one count of third-degree theft and one count of forgery in relation to a recent transaction on a county credit card.
Court documents have also shed light on the charges Sime is facing.
According to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed by the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office, the Mahaska County Attorney’s office notified the Sheriff’s Department on January 9, that Sime had used a county credit card to purchase four tires for her personal vehicle from a discount tires store in Coralville. The complaint then alleges that Sime “altered the invoice to make it appear that the tires that were purchased were for the truck that is owned and operated by Stephen’s Memorial Animal Shelter.”
The complaint also states that the invoice was then turned into the county Auditor’s office for payment. The auditor’s office paid the entire amount of the invoice, which was $592.88.
According to the complaint, when Marion County Deputies interviewed Sime, she admitted to using the card to buy tires for her personal vehicle.
Sime was arrested on January 25, then was released on a $500 cash bond.
According to the animal shelter, the facility will remain open.
“The Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter manager is on temporary leave, but the animal shelter normal operations are continuing with current staff filling in for all needed services.
“The board is reviewing the event and is hopeful that when issues are fully explored, the current manager will return to full-time operations. If you have questions regarding needs for services please contact staff at the animal shelter,” said a statement by the Animal Shelter on January 26.
No date for arraignment has been set. A hearing on the case has been set for February 6 at 1 p.m.
A criminal charge is merely a criminal charge and not an indication of guilt. All suspects should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
