From Staff Reports
________________
Princess LaRose Bolton
A Perry County elected official is facing serious legal issues this week after being arrested for alleged embezzlement.
Beaumont Alderwoman Princess LaRose Bolton was arrested on the felony charge Tuesday night not long after attending a board meeting in Beaumont. A spokesperson with the Perry County Sheriff’s Office said Bolton was arrested and charged with embezzlement after being indicted on the charge on Oct. 19 by a Perry County Grand Jury.
According to a copy of the indictment obtained by The Dispatch, Bolton is accused of embezzling $7,580.34 from the Beaumont Dollar General between Nov. 3 and Nov. 8, 2019. Bolton was the store manager of the Dollar General location at that time.
The indictment did not provide further details, but according to a sheriff’s office official, Bolton had reportedly accepted responsibility for the missing money and promised to repay it. Company officials reportedly filed charges after that did not happen. Bolton was not arrested at the time, but the Perry County Sheriff’s Office investigated the matter and their findings were presented to the Grand Jury.
The Dispatch made attempts to reach Bolton for comment, but at press time those efforts had been unsuccessful. As with all criminal charges, Bolton is considered innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.
Beaumont Mayor Jamie Chambliss said town officials had not been contacted directly concerning the matter, but it was her understanding the alleged misconduct did not have anything to do with Bolton’s roll as an alderwoman.
Chambliss declined to comment further on the matter saying that she did not know enough details about the incident to speak about it.
It is unclear whether town officials will consider taking action regarding the charges against Bolton, who is in her first term in office after being elected to the post in July 2019.
