Jerome Hopewell was sworn in Friday (May 11, 2018) as the new Alexandria city marshal. Wochit


An annual audit of the Alexandria city marshal's office found former Marshal Terence Grines allegedly paid himself a supplement to buy clothing and took more than $1,000 from office funds.

The Rapides Parish District Attorney's Office is reviewing the audit's findings, says DA Phillip Terrell.

Grines resigned as marshal last year after his arrest following a multi-jurisdictional investigation that revealed he was selling opiates. He was sentenced on May 4 to a year in prison at hard labor and a $2,500 fine.

He also faces a felony theft charge in Avoyelles Parish.

The audit was released on the new marshal's first day in office. Jerome Hopewell was sworn into office May 11, saying he was eager to get to work and would be evaluating the entire operation.

He had no comment on the audit, which covered a year ending on Sept. 30, 2017.

The audit, prepared by Oestriecher & Co. certified public accountants in Alexandria, found some questionable expenses and deficiencies impacting office operations.

It revealed that the former deputy marshal reported the theft of $1,100, allegedly by Grines. "The deputy marshal diverted funds from other sources to cover the misappropriated funds," it reads.

It also found checks for $710 were written to Grines as a supplemental salary for clothing purchases, which is against the law.

The audit also stated that Grines made personal deposits to the office's general fund in the amount of $6,650, and that checks totaling $6,900 were written to Grines as reimbursements. Both actions are illegal, it notes, and states that it happened because Grines "was either ignorant or disobedient" of the law.

Auditors couldn't find multiple vendor invoices to Grines as the audit was being prepared. It warned that thefts could go undetected without properly filed invoices. 

In other findings, the audit found the office doesn't have a staff member trained in accounting to record financial transactions or prepare financial statements, nor does the administrative office have adequate segregation of duties.

The office had been cited for the same thing the year before, it notes.

Bank reconciliations for two accounts weren't properly prepared, either, it states.

The official response to the audit was filed by former interim Marshal Ricky Rachal. As for the findings concerning Grines, Rachal's only response was that the former marshal no longer was employed by the office.



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