GCOE reports possible credit card misuse

The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the possible alleged misuse of a Glenn County Office of Education credit card.

Sheriff Larry Jones said the matter is under investigation and there is little information to report at this time.

County Superintendent of Schools Arturo Barrera reported the credit card concerns to the Willows Police Department last week, and that agency passed the report to the sheriff’s office on Friday, Jones said.

Jones said the initial report was made to Willows police because GCOE officials thought the card in question had been used in the city limits. However, they determined the credit card was used outside the city, so it was sent to his office.

Citing confidentiality laws, neither Jones nor Barrera would identify the person whose credit card use is being examined.

“You are innocent until proven guilty, and this person should have the opportunity to clarify any issues raised,” Barrera said Tuesday morning.

The investigation began after staff members brought some apparent gas purchases on a credit card statement to his attention.

“It may be the person has a good explanation for the purchases,” Barrera said. He did not specify the purchases in question or where they were made, but he said they amounted to a few hundred dollars.

Jones said the case will be assigned to a detective. It may be the card was used for an emergency or other legitimate purpose, he said, but the investigation will determine if anything improper was done.