A criminal charge was issued today against Billie Jo Hartwell, director of the Barry County Animal Shelter, according to a news release from the Barry County Prosecutor’s Office.
Hartwell was charged with one count of misconduct in office, a felony common law offense, that carries a maximum of 5 years in prison.
The charge stems from a combination of alleged acts of misconduct, ranging from unauthorized taking of dog food to inappropriate conduct toward a Barry County Jail inmate worker.
“Although the sheriff’s office and the animal shelter are now separate entities, the inmate worker was assigned to the animal shelter as it is a county run facility,” the release said.
The Barry County Sheriff’s Office began investigating this case after they were alerted to the alleged misconduct towards the inmate worker, it said. The investigation is ongoing.
Hartwell was arraigned today, Wednesday, in District Court and is free on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. A probable cause conference has been scheduled for April 12 at 8:15 a.m.