Investigators Probe Public Administrator's Office

Investigators Probe Administrator's Office Officials take look into Buchanan County "bookkeeping irregularities" after complaints.
The Associated PRess
St. Joseph — State investigators have questioned Buchanan County's public administrator and seized items from her office following complaints from elderly residents that they never received their Social Security payments.

The Missouri State Department of Health and Senior Services began the investigation of Bonnie Sue Lawson in December 2005 after receiving the complaints, department spokeswoman Nanci Gonder said.

On Thursday, a state investigator and St. Joseph police detectives served a search warrant to close Lawson's office in downtown St. Joseph to seize four computers, five compact discs and shredded documents.

County prosecutor Dwight Scroggins said no decision has been made on filing charges.
"It's an investigation of what I would term as bookkeeping irregularities," Scroggins said Friday.

All Missouri counties have an elected public administrator who serves as guardian, conservator, personal representative and representative payee for certain citizens, such as minors, the mentally incompetent and those with disabilities.

complete news story:
News-Leader.Com Springfield Missouri
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060820/NEWS01/608200381/1001/ARCHIVES

Butler County Public Administrator Sharron Payne, Where is your Client, MARY LEE GROBE?