The now-former municipal clerk is charged with cutting herself checks over five years.
The investigation may have taken 10 months, but officials in the Warren County borough where a municipal clerk is accused of stealing almost $100,000 over five years say they took action immediately when the allegations arose.
The borough of Washington issued a public statement Friday night, hours after Kristine Henry -- who went by the last name Blanchard while working there -- was arrested and charged with official misconduct.
Authorities raided the clerk's office last July. She is accused of cutting herself $97,682 in checks between 2011 and 2016.
The borough's full statement is below:
Last summer, the Mayor and Council became aware of alarming allegations with regard to Ms. Blanchard's conduct in carrying out her sworn duties as the Municipal Clerk and Manager for the Borough of Washington.
While there has been speculation that the Borough and its Borough officials were not acting expeditiously in response to the claims, the simple fact of the matter is that it took swift and immediate action aimed at determining the veracity of the claims. Through the process, Borough officials remained cognizant of their own responsibilities in protecting the process which had to include Ms. Blanchard's rights pending the outcome of the investigation. The Borough was painstakingly careful not to compromise the progression of the Borough, local authority and Warren County Prosecutor's Office investigations by engaging in public commentary. Transparency is the mainstay of public trust, however, public trust is irrevocably compromised when rumor and speculation take precedence over fact.
So the record is clear, Borough officials took immediate action the very day the allegations surfaced. The authorities were contacted, all relevant evidence was preserved and Ms. Blanchard was suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. The Borough engaged its own professionals as well as independent professionals to investigate the allegations. Further, officials likewise worked diligently in order to make sure that the State agency overseeing the public office of municipal clerk was apprised of and sanctioned the actions taken by the borough with regard to Ms. Blanchard's employment status.
Borough officials are dismayed and saddened by the alleged actions of Ms. Blanchard, and believe that the public is owed a full accounting of what happened, but at this time the legal system must be allowed to run its course.
Henry -- a 47-year-old Warren County native whose address was listed in the 600 block of West Berwick Street in Easton's South Side -- started as borough clerk in June 2006 and was named the borough's interim manager in 2012 before being appointed to both positions full-time. She was suspended and eventually replaced in both capacities during the investigation.
She is charged with one count each of official misconduct, pattern of official misconduct and theft. Each is a second-degree charge carrying a sentence of five to 10 years, or a fine up to $150,000 if convicted.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.