News from all over - Fort Wayne

A review panel has upheld the firing of an Allen County employee for accepting cookies instead of $5 cash for copies of a divorce decree.

Starnes and a co-worker, Janet Niccum, were fired in December after an internal investigation showed they accepted the cookies from a bakery owner in payment for the photocopies. A third employee, Martha Hamblin, received a written reprimand.

"Two people lost their jobs because of it," he said. "It's a little ridiculous." Brown told the panel that Starnes used his position with the clerk's records management office for personal gain and violated the public trust. "We have a responsibility by law to collect for copies," Brown said.
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