(Rock Rapids)– An investigation into some alleged corrupt activities in Lyon county has led to charges against eight people who work for that county, along with its former Engineer.
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office says 8 county employees have been charged with nonfelonious misconduct in office…a serious misdemeanor. Michael Modder, Gerald Grave, Jr., Robert Gruis and Rickie Denekas, all of George, are accused of selling scrap iron belonging to the county and splitting the proceeds among them.
Gary Vogel and Steven Ageson of Rock Rapids are accused of knowing and/or allowing the proceeds from the sale of scrap iron to be used for purposes other than depositing it as county revenue.
Laura VanMaanen of Inwood is accused of failing to report cash income as county revenue; Todd Huisman of Rock Rapids was charged with nonfelonious misconduct in office for allegedly selling scrap iron and not turning the proceeds into the County Auditor as revenue. He was also charged with one count of misappropriation of property…theft in the 2nd degree…a class “D” felony. The charge alleges that Huisman received over $9,000 from the sale of scrap iron, used batteries and aluminum signs that belonged to the county.
In a separate investigation conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, former Lyon County Engineer Jeffrey Williams of Rock Rapids was charged with three counts of nonfelonious misconduct in office for allegedly receiving training and equipment from Lyon county to perform septic tank inspections, which he then conducted as a private business.
Williams was also charged with theft in the 2nd degree…a class “D” felony…for allegedly receiving proceeds of more than $1,000 in that business which should have been county revenue.
