Santa Barbara County sheriff’s clerk accused in thefts

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A records clerk at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has been arrested on suspicion of stealing jewelry worth more than $10,000 in a Goleta home burglary, authorities said Thursday.

Mary Methmann, 45, was arrested Wednesday. Eight days earlier, she was placed on administrative leave for allegedly stealing $50 from the sheriff’s office.

Santa Barbara County prosecutors have yet to review the jewelry case, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. But prosecutors have decided to take Methmann to court in the alleged office theft, the release said.

‘We are extremely disturbed that someone from within the sheriff’s office would betray the public trust in this manner,� Sheriff Bill Brown said. “Due to the policies and systems we have in place, investigators were quickly able to identify and take action on this unfortunate and aberrant employee behavior.’

A Carpinteria resident, Methmann has worked for the sheriff’s office since 2005.

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-- Steve Chawkins in Ventura County