Published: June 11, 2009 11:16 pm         

Former Clinton newspaper employee arrested on felony theft warrant

Shortly before noon Thursday, Indiana State Police officers served a Vermillion County Circuit Court arrest warrant for three counts of felony theft on Valerie K. Anderson, a former employee of The Daily Clintonian newspaper at Clinton. Anderson, 38, was arrested at her Clinton home and incarcerated in the Vermillion County Jail with bail set at $10,000.

The criminal investigation began May 18, when the owners of The Daily Clintonian contacted the Indiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations about money missing from the business accounts and provided documentation to support their claims. ISP Detective Tony Guinn began investigating the complaint and found that $15,636.45 was missing from the financial accounts. Further investigation determined the money allegedly was taken during the calendar years of 2006, 2007 and 2008 by then-circulation manager Anderson.

Guinn was assisted in the investigation by ISP Trooper Joe Rutledge, Vermillion County Prosecutor’s Office and the Clinton Police Department.

A person convicted of a class-D felony can be imprisoned up to three years and fined a maximum of $10,000.