BRATTLEBORO — Sheriff Sheila Prue has resigned from her post, following charges she embezzled sheriff’s department funds and after being asked to resign by a state legislator, the Brattleboro Reformer reported in June. Prue, who admitted guilt to the charges, must repay $36,000 of department money, the report said.
     The Vermont Attorney General’s office filed the charges following an audit by state Auditor Randy Brock in April. Rep. Richard Marek, D-Newfane, requested that Prue step down upon hearing of the charges, the newspaper said.
     Prue also pled guilty to a felony and two misdemeanors, the Reformer said. Prue had previously refused to step down, and maintained she had done nothing wrong. In late June, however, she pled guilty to the charges. While Prue could have received a jail sentence of up to 10 years, she was given five years’ probation to give her the opportunity to pay back the money, plus 80 hours of community service, the Reformer said.
     Following the charges, Prue received an anonymous check for $26,000 to help pay the money owed, the Reformer said. She had already paid back $10,000. The felony could be struck from her record since she has repaid the $36,000 owed, according to reports.
     Prue’s attorney, Bettina Buehler, maintained that her client was following the same procedures used by prior sheriffs, and she questioned why the “white male heterosexual sheriffs” accused of similar misdeeds in the past were not charged. Buehler had said that she believed the charges were politically motivated by Brock, who is a Republican. Prue is a Democrat, and openly lesbian.
      Brock denied the accusation. “I certainly have seen no past audit that has reflected this level of widespread corruption that we have seen here,” the Reformer quoted Brock.
     Brock also said that sheriffs are “unique” in that they are “part state employee, part county employee, part entrepreneur,” the Reformer reported. Sheriffs must solicit contracts to help support their departments, such as the contracts Windham County previously had serving Stratton Mountain and Vermont Yankee. News reports have indicated that there may be a lack of sufficient training in place for Vermont sheriffs.
     Brattleboro Police Chief Richard Guthrie has been named as interim sheriff for Windham County, a post he will likely hold for the rest of Prue’s term at the end of the year. The sheriff’s post will be on the ballot in November.