News
Former Sheriff’s Secretary Re-trial Set For Monday
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
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The former Meigs County Sheriff’s secretary accused of taking funds while serving in that position is scheduled for a second jury trial beginning on Monday.
Mary Kimes, 46, of Middleport was indicted in May 2013 on eight counts of theft in office for allegedly stealing at least $60,000 in office funds according to the indictment. The offenses are alleged to have occurred between January 2011 and June 2012.
All eight charges are third-degree felonies, which would be a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison if she is convicted on all counts and sentenced to serve all the time consecutively.
Kimes was secretary under two sheriffs, but had left the office by the time current sheriff Keith Wood came into office.
Kimes faced trial in July of 2014, but a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on any of the eight counts resulting in a hung jury.
A jury that sat through a week-long trial took two days to impanel because the court did not have enough citizens to fill the jury box, according to previous Messenger reporting.
Sheriff Keith Wood said the county ended up knocking on doors to serve more potential jurors to fill the seats.
The first trial included two days of testimony, including an hour-long examination of Kimes by the defense.
Kimes’ attorney during the first trial, Herman Carson, said there was testimony he thought could be “emphasized” if there was a new trial.
Kimes remains free on her own recognizance.