Oregon Courthouse Supervisor Accused of Stealing Nearly $135,000 Cash Paid for Bail and Fines
Twenty-nine bank deposit bags containing nearly $135,000 were allegedly stolen by a Linn County records supervisor employed by the Oregon Judicial Department.
The Accused Managed a Team of 37 People at the Courthouse
Kay Michelle Zink (56), who managed a team of 37 people at the Linn County courthouse, has been indicted on three counts of first-degree aggravated theft, and one count of first-degree theft. She is accused of pocketing fines and bail money paid in cash to the courthouse by defendants.
According to the investigation, Zink is said to have stolen the cash en-route to the bank to deposit the funds between September and December 2023.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Zink was responsible for identifying and resolving financial discrepancies and errors and reducing errors by analyzing financial information. She worked at the Linn County courthouse for three years and three months.
The police were notified about the theft in January, says Oregon Judicial Department spokesperson, Todd Sprague.
On March 14, Zink was suspended from work and given paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Kay Michelle Zink Remains Out of Custody
Zink appeared in the Linn County Circuit Court this week Wednesday after her arrest on September 22. She is allowed to remain out of custody with the proviso that she not contact anyone at the court, except via her lawyer.
Edward Talmadge has been appointed by the court to represent her.
To avoid a conflict of interest, a Yamhill County judge has been assigned to the case.
Sprague said the investigation into the Zink case has prompted the state Judicial Department’s internal audit office to issue additional recommendations to safeguard how cash is handled at circuit courts statewide.