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County official disputes Times Journal draft that said $600,000 in justice‑court revenue went unprocessed
Summary
A county official who said they served 21 years as justice of the peace disputed a draft Times Journal line that claimed more than $600,000 in justice‑court revenue went unprocessed in 2023, saying monthly deposits and statutory reporting show the funds were turned over to the county treasury.
A Gilliam County official addressed an upcoming Times Journal three‑part series during the April 15 county court meeting and disputed a draft line that, according to the official, stated that more than $600,000 in justice‑court revenue was not processed in 2023.
The official, who said they served as justice of the peace for 21 years, told the court that those funds were accounted for and turned over monthly to the county treasury by statute and audit procedures.
"The funds are accounted at the justice court and turned over to the treasur monthly by statute and audit," the official said, adding, "I do not want anything said about falsification or misappropriation of justice for fun because that is not true." The speaker asked that the court avoid wording that implies misappropriation without clear evidence.
The official said they have tracked those amounts on the revenue budget report and that court checks were written to the county and bank statements reconciled. The court did not present documentary evidence during the meeting; the official said they had asked the Times Journal reporter, Mr. Allen, to share the draft and had received it the previous evening.
The court did not take formal action but heard the clarification and the speaker said they would follow up on the issue outside the meeting.
