Rusk council anxious for grand jury to hear embezzlement case
Approximately $150,000 may have been siphoned from water department

After almost 11 months, the City of Rusk's allegation of embezzlement at city hall is still considered an "open investigation."

The case rests in the hands of Cherokee County District Attorney Elmer Beckworth, and city officials are hopeful that December will be the month that the case is presented to the grand jury for possible indictment.

As much as $150,000 in funds may be missing from the Rusk water department, and a former city employee was terminated almost a year ago.

Two city councilmen have grumbled that they do not understand what is taking so long on the case.

A forensic audit of the missing funds has been performed, but not all the witnesses associated with city hall have been interviewed, Mr. Beckworth confirmed.

Texas Ranger Rudy Flores was assigned the case to determine a time frame for the alleged embezzlement.

Two calls to his office were not returned at deadline.

Sources close to the investigation suggest that the case is complicated because the missing funds may span at least two years. Another factor is the "fishbowl" reality of providing timely justice in a small community

where people know or are related to one another.

One source told the Cherokeean Herald that a "person of interest" in the case is related to someone who sat on the selection committee that chose the previous grand jury. "Understandably, Beckworth didn't want to present the case to the old grand jury."

The current panel of jurists, which met for the first time in October, does not have this potential conflict of interest. The current grand jury will serve and hear cases through (Feb. 2008).

Rusk City Manager Mike Murray said he has confidence in the justice system.

"We have some good people working on this. Sometimes the wheels of justice turn slowly."

He said he is anxious to see justice served.