Document forgery alleged in ATCO's Walnut Township
05/02/2024

(KAIR)--Suspicions of forgery lead an Atchison County-based township to report the concern to the Atchison County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Jack Laurie, in a release Wednesday afternoon, said "members of the Walnut Township reported an alleged possible forgery of a document pertaining to the duties of the Trustee of the Walnut Township Board."

Saying that the investigation is continuing, no additional details are provided. However, the reported forgery is the latest in ongoing turmoil for Walnut Township, including the approaching May 7 recall election pertaining to Treasurer Duane Boldridge.

A photo of the apparent document in question is posted to one of two Facebook groups representing the township, with members of the fractionalized committee each helming one of the two social media pages.

Posted earlier this week, the pictured document, dated April 3 on Atchison County letterhead and bearing the signature of Atchison County Clerk Michelle Phillips, is addressed to the Bank of Atchison, intended to remove Committee Chair, and Trustee, Gary Servaes from the Walnut Township's bank account. That comes in conjunction with a letter, also shown in a post to the Facebook group, accompanied by its envelope, sent to Servaes through registered mail. That letter, dated April 2, informed Servaes that a 2-1 vote, following an executive session held March 18, removed him from his role as trustee effective April 2.

Servaes, despite the ouster attempt, remains on the committee, with the validity of the banking account removal document called into question, leaving the Sheriff's Office investigating.


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