The arrest of former county employee Dalton Ball on a charge of embezzlement (see story on page A5) has raised questions about Washita County’s internal financial controls and supervision.
Ball, who was a fulltime District Two employee from Dec. 1, 2016, through May 2, 2019, has been charged with using a county-issued fuel card to fill his personal vehicle 59 times over span of nearly two years. In total, Ball is accused of stealing $2,843.80 worth of gasoline from the county.
According to the affidavit, the theft was discovered in April 2019 by Washita County Clerk Kristen Dowell, who reportedly noticed after-hours charges on Ball’s card. Dowell refused to answer questions about the county’s processes for management of fuel card purchases, saying she had been advised by the district attorney to not comment. When pressed she said, “Each department has their own internal controls. The state purchasing procedures are followed.”
Commissioner Leo Goeringer, who supervises District Two, said he couldn’t comment specifically as the case is still pending. However, Goeringer did confirm he receives monthly reports on each fuel card, including the dates, times, and amounts of each transaction, and that it is his responsibility to monitor use. He said he thought Ball’s fuel charges slipped through due to changes in the form, but also that changes were being made to prevent such mistakes from happening again. He declined to comment on what changes were being made to prevent such issues in the future.