ELSIE — Before he quit in 2024, then-Village Manager Shane Grinnell wrote a check to himself for about $25,000, purportedly as payment for time he worked but hadn’t been paid for, police said in a document filed with the court when Grinnell was charged with embezzlement.
Grinnell was village manager, code enforcement officer, reserve police officer and a firefighter in Elsie from 2020 to 2024, Michigan State Police said in the document.
Auditors determined that about $88,500 in village funds may not have been used for the village’s benefit, and Grinnell was formally charged this week with one count each of embezzlement of $50,000 to $100,000, misconduct in public office and willful neglect of duty.
Grinnell’s attorney indicated his client denies the charges.
“We’re just preparing for the preliminary exam,” the attorney, Jack Rucker, said. “Mr. Grinnell is looking forward to clearing his name and to have his day in court.”
Grinnell, 44, of Crystal, is free on a $50,000 personal bond, the attorney said.
Issues arose over Grinnell’s ability to work with others in the fire department and “suspected misappropriation of funds,” and he left the fire department before resigning from the village, investigators said in the charging document.
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A forensic accountant couldn’t find adequate documentation for nearly $56,500 in credit card transactions and nearly $6,670 in vendor costs, the document said.
The auditors noted some transactions may have been for a legitimate purpose, but without supporting documentation, they were unable to determine if they were for “a reasonable Village purpose,” according to the police filing.
Grinnell admitted writing a check to himself for $25,379.20 “but indicated the monies were owed to him,” police said. Grinnell admitting have access to vendor accounts and credit cards but denied using them for personal gain, they said.
The embezzlement and misconduct charges are felonies. Willful neglect of duty is a misdemeanor. The embezzlement charge is the most serious, carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison upon conviction.
Grinnell pleaded not guilty to the charges during his Aug. 4 arraignment, court records indicate.
A hearing to determine whether he should proceed toward trial on the charges was tentatively set for Aug. 18 in Clinton County District Court.
Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on X @KBPalm_lsj
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Ex-Elsie village manager charged with embezzling taxpayer money
Reporting by Ken Palmer, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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By Ken Palmer, Lansing State Journal | USA TODAY Network
