Sluggish Theft Case ‘Frustrating’ to Ex-Saline County Commissioner

By Tim Unruh

Nearly three years after some $240,000 turned up missing from Saline County coffers, a theft case is pending, yet there is no word of when, or if, charges will be filed.

Key information is under wraps at the Kansas Attorney General’s office in Topeka, according to local leaders.

Saline County Commissioners have been able to share snippets of information, and some details were provided by County Treasurer Jim DuBois.

“It’s in the hands of the AG’s office. Once the affidavit is filed, I will be glad to answer any questions. The only thing I’ve heard is it’s still an active case,” DuBois said earlier this week.

The theft surfaced as a result of a “routine transaction,” in 2022, DuBois added, referring any questions to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

“It was me and my staff who found the anomaly. I immediately turned it over to authorities once we found it. It was like, right away,” he said.

Asked if the suspect or suspects in the case were ever employed by Saline County, DuBois would not confirm or deny. When asked if suspects are not currently employed by the county, he replied, “That would be a fair assumption. Now you’re getting into the details that I can’t tell you, one way or the other. I think that would be up to the KBI.”

A call to the bureau Tuesday was referred to the Kansas Attorney General’s Office. As of 2:32 p.m. Wednesday, a call to the AG’s office was not returned.

“The treasurer’s office issued a statement way back when (the theft) was discovered, and we’ve been working with law enforcement,” said Philip Smith-Hanes, Saline County administrator.

He and County Commissioner Bob Vidricksen confirmed that the amount of the loss was “in the neighborhood” of $240,000.

“The minute the county attorney (Jeff Ebel) got it, he forwarded it to the KBI and the KBI told us to keep our mouths shut,” Vidricksen said. “It’s been extremely frustrating, particularly as I am getting ready to exit office. I was uncomfortable with that not being exposed to the public, like we’ve got something to hide.”  

The last update to the investigation that began in April 2022 was Dec. 18, according to a county press release. It read that the county requested that the AG’s office take over the case to “expedite progress … for review and potential prosecution.”

For now, Smith-Hanes said, the case is in the attorney general’s hands.

“I think they have recommended some charges,” he said. “My understanding is there are no charges against any existing county employees.”

If charges are brought, Smith-Hanes said, they will involve “some variety of theft.”

The loss had nothing to do with the county’s mill levy increase of 0.25 of a mill, he said.

“The county’s books still have a loss, until we get everything settled with insurance,” Smith-Hanes said. “We buy insurance like every other business in town, and it protects us against lots of different kinds of losses, and one of the losses is criminal acts.”

Current County Commission Chairman Joe Hay Jr., took a break from vacation this past Monday to provide this statement about the theft case:

“(Authorities) really have not come out and told the commissioners much. We knew something was up. I don’t think they’ve been able to tell us much until they have more information,” Hay said. “I would rather wait until I’ve heard the full story, until I hear it from our county attorney. I’d rather hear it in full and not in bits and pieces.”

County Attorney Ebel could not be reached for comment.

FACTOID:

Saline County Commissioner Bob Vidricksen is finishing his eighth year in office. He served four years as chairman.

“I didn’t want to leave office with people saying ‘Why didn’t you say something, Bob?’ I was frustrated with that (treasurer’s office investigation) and was sour on (public service),” he said. “There comes a time where you need to move on and the county needs some fresh ideas.”

Vidricksen’s successor in District 2 is Annie Grevas, assistant director of grants at Kansas Wesleyan University, who previously spent 35 years with the Saline County Community Corrections team, rising to director. 

Saline County Treasurer Jim DuBois, is retiring officially on the second Tuesday of October. This is his 12th year in office.

Saline County Attorney Jeff Ebel’s final day in office is Friday. His successor is John Reynolds. Ebel is currently serving as Ottawa County attorney.