Former Saline County Sheriff pleads guilty to stealing public funds

A former Saline County Sheriff pleaded guilty to stealing public funds in federal court Tuesday.

Wallace Newman George, Jr., 70, of Corder, Missouri, pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $79,000.

George was appointed as acting sheriff in November 1979, and was officially elected in December 1979. He held the office until his resignation Monday. Part of today’s plea agreement included George resigning from office.

U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson said George was taking state-issued checks intended to reimburse the county for prisoner expenses and using them for personal use. George cashed, partially deposited, or deposited approximately 34 extradition reimbursement checks into his personal bank account between January 2010 and June 2015. He is charged with one count of stealing from an organization that receives federal funds.

George paid $51,162 in restitution to Saline County on Friday. He then paid $27,749 in restitution to the state Tuesday.

The government is recommending a sentence of no more than one year and one day imprisonment as a part of the plea deal. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled once the United States Probation Office finishes a pre-sentence investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver is investigating the case. It was also investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.