Dawson County clerk accused of stealing more than $100K

By Mashaun D. Simon

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Dawson County elected official has been charged with stealing more than $100,000 from the county.

Becky McCord, county clerk of Superior Court since 1993, turned herself in to authorities Thursday afternoon.

McCord is charged with theft by taking, Tony Wooten, Dawson County Sheriff spokesman, told the AJC.

According to the arrest warrant, in 2000 the Dawson County Superior Court Clerk’s Office began issuing U.S. passports. Upon issuing a passport, a fee is paid to the U.S. Department of State and another fee is paid to the Dawson County Superior Court clerk. Fees paid to the clerk’s office are deposited in an account and are available to the clerk for compensation.

From 2000 to 2009 McCord was entitled to $77,427.25 in compensation, but from 2004 through 2009 she paid herself $205,650, the warrant states.

“Financial records from 2000-2003 could not be found,” Wooten told the AJC.

McCord is not the only one facing charges. Donna Sheriff, deputy clerk of the court, is accused of unlawfully taking $80,000 from the account. Sheriff is McCord's niece, Wooten said.

McCord paid a $50,000 bond and was released from jail shortly after turning herself in Thursday.

Dawson County is about 40 miles north of Atlanta.