By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE – An ongoing investigation into the theft of ticket fines at the St. Charles Parish Clerk of Court’s Office has led to the arrest of a second clerk of court employee and additional charges for a former employee who had previously been arrested as part of the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office investigation.

On Thursday, deputies arrested Brittany D. Jones, 25, of 122 Champagne Drive, Hahnville, on two counts of theft under $500, two counts of malfeasance in office and two counts of injuring public records. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Pat Yoes said Jones’ bond information was not yet available.

Authorities have also arrested Tina Bourque, 41, of 165 Martin Lane, Des Allemands, on 23 counts of theft under $500, 33 counts of malfeasance in office and 33 counts of injuring public records. Yoes said Bourque’s bond was set at $100,000. Bourque had previously been arrested Nov. 7 on two counts of each charge.

Both women were fired after the alleged thefts were discovered, authorities said.

Yoes said the women are accused of taking cash and checks for traffic fines at the clerk’s office but not turning the money over to the Sheriff’s Office. Yoes said the investigation that led to Bourque’s initial arrest began Nov. 2 after a person who wrote a check for a traffic ticket and delivered it to Bourque received notification of withdrawal of driving privileges for not paying for the fines. The investigation revealed that Bourque cashed the check at a local store. He said court records showed the charges were not prosecuted, and there was no record of payment.

Yoes said since Borque’s first arrest, several citizens have come forward to report they had paid their fines at the clerk’s office, only to receive warrant letters in the mail weeks later. Yoes said Clerk of Court Charles Oubre is cooperating fully with the investigation.

Sheriff Greg Champagne is asking anyone who may have sought assistance from the St. Charles Parish Clerk of Court’s Office for traffic citations for which they paid cash or paid by check and left the payee portion of the check blank to please contact Lt. Donnie Smith or Sgt. Derek Pertuis with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office at 985-783-1135 or 985-783-6807.