Geoff Pender: Corrupt officials still get off easy

Geoff Pender: Corrupt officials still get off easy

Yet another corrupt Mississippi government official has just gotten off with a slap on the wrist, as a bill that would prevent such languishes in the Legislature, facing a likely death.

The state auditor busted Indianola Deputy Municipal Court Clerk Tina Parker for stealing $51,244.33 from taxpayers, and she pleaded guilty. But she won’t serve any jail time. And after supervised — then unsupervised — probation, her record will be wiped clean of the felony. It was “non-adjudicated” by Circuit Judge Margaret Carey-McCray last month.

Heck, with Mississippi’s track record, she’ll probably get another government job handling money.

Geoff Pender
Clarion Ledger
3/2/13