HALLWOOD, Va. - Former Town Clerk of Hallwood, Angela Taylor now faces over 60 felony embezzlement charges after police discovered she'd been stealing from the town.
Taylor had aroused suspicions after unauthorized checks showed missing funds. Back in October of 2017, the town tried to audit its records when Taylor's car mysteriously caught fire with the records inside.
After the fire, Taylor wrote an apology letter to Mayor Jackie Poulson with her resignation as town clerk. Since then a new town clerk has been hired in Hallwood.
Court documents obtained by WBOC show that Taylor had been allegedly stealing town funds from 2011 to 2017. Taylor had 65 transactions totaling nearly $24,000 using duplicate checks and even depositing town money for her electric bill.
Councilman Stanley Young says he never expected the trail of suspicion would unveil this much crime.
"I've known her all my life and I was really surprised when this come about," Young said.
Young confesses the town audit should have been conducted much sooner. He explains maybe then this situation wouldn't have gone on for six years.
"Maybe it wouldn't have been as bad if the books had been audited like they should," Young said.
Young says he hopes Hallwood can move on from this situation with charges placed against Taylor.
"Maybe if she tries to pay it back and maybe it'll teach her a good lesson," Young said.
Taylor is currently out on bond and scheduled to appear in Accomack County District Court on February 27th.
