By Ruth Brown
Idaho Falls Post Register
BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho — A sworn officer for the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office was arrested Monday when he unlawfully used county money for his personal use, authorities said.
Brian James Brown, 44, was arrested for the fraudulent possession of a financial transaction card and the misuse of public funds for personal use.
Brown, a corrections officer at Bonneville County Jail, was released from the Bonneville County Jail following his arrest on a $10,000 bond.
On at least three occasions Brown charged a combined total of $147 to a county transaction card he had taken to fill his personal vehicle with gasoline, according to Sgt. Jeff
Edwards of the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.
The misuse of public funds charge stems from a separate incident that remains under investigation. The amount of money involved is not being released, Edwards said.
The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office became aware of the fraud when they received a report of a financial transaction card that had been logged into the Bonneville County Jail’sproperty Oct. 14. The card was used to buy gasoline.
Court records show that from Dec. 1, 2010, to June 30, Brown wrongfully obtained public funds on ""multiple"" occasions, including an Oct. 5 incident, authorities said.
Brown, who had worked at the jail for four years, was placed on administrative suspension pending a termination hearing.
Fraudulent possession of a financial transaction card carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in state prison and a $50,000 fine.
Misusing or wrongfully obtaining a public funds charge has a maximum sentence of up to 14 years in state prison and a $10,000 fine.
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