Court House Clerk Holly Skelton Indicted

By Evan Jones, Assistant Editor

According to court records, a Grand Jury in Charlotte County returned true bills on thirty charges against Holly Megan Adams Skelton, age 34, in early October, 2016 relating to her former employment with the Town of Charlotte Court House.

The indictments state that Skelton: “…while being an employee of the Commonwealth or of any city, town, county or any other political subdivision, having custody of public funds, or other funds coming into her custody under her official capacity, knowingly misuse or misappropriate the same… [public funds],” (embezzlement) “…unlawfully and feloniously steal property, having a value of $200.00 or more belonging to the Town of Charlotte Courthouse…,” (grand larceny) “…unlawfully and feloniously forge checks drawn on the Bank of Charlotte County…,” (forgery) “…unlawfully and feloniously utter or attempt to employ as true checks drawn on the Bank of Charlotte County knowing them to be forged…,” (uttering) and “unlawfully and feloniously, without authority, use a computer or computer network to embezzle or commit larceny of Town of Charlotte Courthouse funds with a value of $200 or more…” (computer fraud).

The documents details six counts of each crime (embezzlement, grand larceny, forgery, uttering, and computer fraud) for a period spanning from September 30, 2010 to March 31, 2012.

In Virginia, embezzlement is a class four felony, punishable by a sentence of two to ten years and a fine of up to $100,000. Grand larceny is an unclassified felony with sentences up to twenty years and a fine of up to $2,500. Forgery, uttering and computer fraud are all Class 5 felonies, with sentences ranging from one to ten years with fines of up to $2,500.

According to Stephen Walker, mayor of Charlotte Court House, Skelton was employed as the Town Clerk for about two years starting in 2010. Walker declined to comment further on the incident. According to Charlotte County Commonwealth’s Attorney Bill Green, a Special Prosecutor has been appointed to handle the case. The next court date is scheduled for November 16, 2016.

Skelton also appeared in court on October 26, 2016, facing four charges of welfare fraud, each a felony. Skelton pled guilty to petit larceny, a lesser crime, and was sentenced to 12 months with 12 months suspended. Restitution of the money in question relating to the four fraud charges has already been made.