Former city administrator Cox pleads not guilty

    HARLAN – Former Harlan City Administrator Terry Lynn Cox, 67, Harlan, has pleaded not guilty in Shelby County District Court to Theft 1st Degree, Felonious Misconduct in Office and Tampering with Records.
    A written arraignment and plea of not guilty was filed in district court July 9, and Cox also waived his right to a speedy trial.
    The court has set pre-trial conference for 9 a.m. on August 20 and a jury trial for 9:30 a.m. on September 11 at the Shelby County Courthouse in Harlan.
    Through his attorney, Mark Weinhardt, last month, Cox said he disagrees with the charges filed against him and is looking forward to clearing his name at trial.
    Cox turned himself in to the Shelby County Jail Friday, June 15 after an arrest warrant was issued, and then he was released on $5,000 bond.
    Complaints filed in district court allege Cox filed expense records for conferences and training that never occurred and reimbursement requests to the city for expenses, which were also reimbursed by professional organizations.  
    The allegations surfaced following questions from the Harlan City Council about expense reports, and a special state investigation performed by the Iowa State Auditor’s Office at the request of the city that outlined improper and unsupported disbursements, many of which were tied to Cox.
    Results of the audit were forwarded to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office for review, and an investigation by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation for almost another year led to the filing of criminal charges last month.
    If convicted of the charges against him, Cox faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in jail, with additional fines totaling $17,500 on the class C felony, class D felony and aggravated misdemeanor charges.
 

 
 

 

Harlan Newspapers

1114 7th Street
P.O. Box 721
Harlan, IA 51537-0721

(800) 909-6397
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