Skelton faces 30 counts

Published 2:03 pm Wednesday, October 26, 2016

A former Charlotte Court House town clerk faces 30 charges stemming from allegations she embezzled public funds dating back to 2010.

A Charlotte County grand jury indicted Holly Megan Adams Skelton, of Drakes Branch, for six counts each of embezzlement of public funds, grand larceny equal or greater than $200, other forgery/uttering, other forgery: employ or true, and computer fraud: larceny/embezzlement equal or greater than $200.

Charlotte Court House Mayor Stephen Walker had no comment on the charges. Walker  confirmed Skelton worked as town clerk for two years and was initially placed on indefinite administrative leave. Skelton no longer works as town clerk, he said.

According to online Charlotte County Circuit Court records, the alleged offenses took place on Sept. 30, 2010, Jan. 1, 2011, Jan. 4, 2011, June 1, 2011, Oct. 10, 2011, and Jan. 1, 2012.

The grand jury indicted Skelton Oct. 5, the same day they were presented. Authorities arrested Skelton on Oct. 7. According to the Charlotte County Clerk of Circuit Court’s office, Skelton is free on $2,000 secured bond.

With Skelton having worked for the town, which is within the county, Charlotte County Commonwealth’s Attorney William E. Green Jr. will not be prosecuting the case. Instead, a special prosecutor — Amelia County Commonwealth’s Attorney Lee Harrison — will oversee the case against Skelton.

Harrison said he is not yet sure how much money is involved.

“I still don’t have those figures from the Virginia State Police,” Harrison said, confirming the state investigated the case. “They are still tallying the figures and should be providing them to me in the next two to three weeks.”

In the meantime, there will be a hearing Wednesday involving Harrison and Skelton’s defense attorney.

“We’ll be setting dates to move the case along,” Harrison said.

Wednesday is also the date for Skelton to be on trial for three counts of welfare fraud equal to or more than $200 and one count of not notifying the appropriate department of some type of change in status. The welfare fraud allegedly occurred on Dec. 10, 2014, Jan. 6, 2015, and May 1, 2015. The offense date for the other allegation is May 15, 2015. Authorities arrested Skelton on these charges June 14.

Also, in 2013, a Virginia State Police press release named Skelton, then 30, along with Amy W. Covington, then 41, of Charlotte Court House, as facing several charges handed up by a grand jury.

Law enforcement charged Skelton with one count each of trespassing and conspiracy to trespass, both of which were dismissed that August.

Officials charged Covington with one count each of trespassing, conspiracy to trespass and larceny. Covington pleaded guilty to the trespassing and conspiracy to trespass in June 2013, along with a charge of embezzlement over $200.

The VSP said the 2013 charges against the two women were unrelated to the embezzlement charges against Skelton.