St. Mary fires 2 ex-workers in connection with alleged thefts

The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office has charged two former St. Mary Parish government workers with one count each of felony theft.

Authorities with the St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court’s Office identified Deidra Denise Carr McClain, a former parish road department staffer, and Angela Billodeau Rhodes, a former Kemper Williams Park employee, as the two charged.

McClain allegedly submitted time sheets in the payroll system recording hours she did not work. She’s accused of stealing approximately $6,700. Rhodes, meanwhile, is alleged to have taken approximately $2,000 from the Patterson park.

St. Mary Parish Assistant District Attorney Vincent Borne said his office is actively prosecuting both women. The felony theft charge applies to any amount taken in excess of $1,500.

Details of the thefts went unreleased by St. Mary Parish Government.

The first public mention of the crimes came last Wednesday when Guy Pitts of the accounting firm Pitts & Matte released the information as part of the 2010 Fiscal Year Audit Report.

“During our audit of the St. Mary Parish Council for the year ending Dec 31, 2010, we noted two situations,” Pitt said. “We believe these situations involved possible fraud and should be reported to the council.

“The chief financial officer informed us of the two instances of fraud.”

Pitts’ report said McClain, when confronted, admitted the theft. She was charged and later made full restitution, he said. McClain was arrested and charged by the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.

According to Pitts’ report, Rhodes resigned her job, at which time an investigation was conducted by park officials and the money was determined missing.

When confronted, Rhodes denied taking any money and was later arrested and charged, Pitts reported.