Despite several requests from the district attorney’s office, the State Auditor’s Office has taken no action on the alleged embezzlement of city funds in Magnolia.
On Wednesday, District Attorney Dee Bates said he has tried several times to contact the the State Auditor’s Office concerning the Willie Bowen case, but no one has returned his calls.
Bowen, the former city grounds and street keeper, was fired Feb. 4 after evidence surfaced alleging he embezzled public funds in the form of keeping proceeds from recycled cans he oversaw work release inmates remove from the sides of city streets.
State Auditor’s officials did not respond to a request for comment.
The DA’s office finally received a message from an investigator on Friday, and Bates said he plans to return the call this week.
Bowen could face a charge of felony embezzlement under the public officials statute, which applies to virtually any public employee, and a charge related to converting inmate labor into personal gain.
Financial records, a signed receipt and video footage obtained by the Enterprise-Journal allegedly show that on Jan. 10, Bowen sold the cans for cash then never remitted the cash to the city.
When the board met with Bowen on Feb. 4, he reportedly admitted using the money to buy lunch for himself and the inmates.
After the evidence surfaced, the DA’s office asked the Magnolia Police Department to move forward with charges, but weeks went by without any action taken, and the State Auditor’s office was eventually asked to take over the case.
Since Bowen’s firing, the city has been left without a grounds and street keeper.
The board placed a job ad with the unemployment office and has received close to 20 applications, which they plan to discuss this week
