Michelle Barnes, 42, of Smithland, was sentenced Feb. 16 by Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd. A Franklin County grand jury indicted Barnes June 6, 2017, for abuse of public trust.
According to prosecutors, Barnes illegally took funds while acting in her official capacity as deputy clerk between Jan. 1, 2013, to March 31, 2016.
According to the sentencing agreement, Barnes admitted to stealing the $20,000 from judicial funds for court costs and violation fines that are paid to a clerk’s office by taxpayers. As part of her sentence, Barnes will be monitored by the court and be required to pay back the money.
Auditors with the Administrative Office of the Courts and investigators with the Office of the Attorney General investigated the case, which was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Unit.