From the Union Leader…
LACONIA – Nancy Cook, the former Belknap County administrator and finance director, waived indictment on a charge of taking about $40,000 in county funds over the course of four years, the Attorney General’s Office said yesterday.
Until April, Cook, 46, of Laconia, had been overseeing the county’s $26 million budget. She had been in the position 10 years before being placed on leave and was subsequently terminated following a hearing on the matter April 8 before the three-member Belknap County Commission.
Since that time, the matter has been under investigation.
New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte announced yesterday that a waiver of indictment has been filed charging Cook with a Class A felony of theft by unauthorized taking.
The complaint alleges Cook took $40,601.99 from Belknap County by writing checks out of the county’s account made payable to cash, cashing the checks and using the funds for her personal needs. She is also accused of writing a check to purchase a computer for her own personal use.
An arraignment, plea and sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. in Belknap County Superior Court.
Conviction is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.