Meeting At Seminole County Courthouse To Appoint Interim Sheriff And Undersheriff

A meeting is taking place Thursday afternoon at the Seminole County Courthouse to appoint an interim sheriff and undersheriff.

The 2 p.m. meeting comes after an investigation by the Oklahoma Attorney General into missing funds from the sheriff's office.

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“It's quite sickening we're struggling with money all the time anyway then to know some of it's going out the door the other way it's really heartbreaking,” Seminole County Commissioner Timothy Porter said.

The investigation into misappropriated funds started earlier in 2023, according to Porter.

"I've heard several different numbers. No one has ever come to us and said 'this is a hard number that's missing,'" Porter said. "The auditors were in for quite a while going through quite a bit of stuff."

Sheriff Shannon Smith’s resignation will go in effect at 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 31. Undersheriff Matt Healy’s resignation went into effect at 8 a.m. Monday. A third employee who was let go a few months ago is also under investigation, according to Porter.

According to a document from the state Attorney General's office, the Sheriff is accused of mishandling funds from the Seminole County Sheriff Deputy Association Fund. He has to pay $2,566 in restitution, resign his position and not seek employment in law enforcement for two years. The state will not file charges if Smith completes the conditions of the agreement.