A former deputy clerk in the Lewis County Clerk’s Office pleaded not guilty to burglary, theft and other charges Tuesday in Lewis County District Court.
The arraignment marked the first court appearance for 24-year-old Isaac Hammond, who submitted his resignation to the clerk’s office one day prior to his arrest for the charges in September.
In addition to the charges of third-degree burglary and theft by unlawful taking over $500, Hammond was charged with first-degree criminal mischief and abuse of public trust less than $10,000. Each of the charges are a class D felony.
According to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Hammond admitted to breaking into the clerk’s office July 23. He gained access to the office by a key, but damaged one of the outer doors to the office in an attempt to stage the burglary, according to LCSO. Hammond also allegedly opened drawers and pried on a cash register to further stage the burglary.
According to the LCSO, Hammond pried open one locked filing drawer enough to remove a deposit book, cash and checks. Hammond allegedly stole approximately $1,500, according to police.
An outside door to the courthouse was unlocked the morning after the burglary, even though a deputy was the last known person in the building the night before. A deputy arriving early Sunday morning discovered the unlocked door but noticed nothing amiss in the lower level of the courthouse, according to police.
Hammond was booked into the Lewis County Detention Center but released on a $5,000 cash bond, according to a court spokesperson.
Hammond will next appear in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing. Preliminary hearings are used to establish whether or not there is probable cause to send a defendant’s case to the grand jury.
County Clerk Glenda Himes said security procedures have been reworked since the burglary and deposits are no longer held overnight.
Leave a Reply