DARLINGTON - The former administrator of Lafayette Manor was found guilty Wednesday of campaigning for a political ally in 2011 while on the clock and through her work email.
Catherine A. Krentz, 60, Darlington, appeared for a sentencing hearing Wednesday, Nov. 21 in Lafayette County Circuit Court before Judge Thomas Vale. She previously pleaded not guilty to the forfeiture charge, but changed her plea to guilty at the hearing.
She is ordered to pay a $150 fine and $176.50 in court costs by Jan. 22. The offense is a non-traffic ordinance violation, and as such, does not carry a penalty of jail time.
The charge against her was filed in August and alleged she used her government position for her own gain. It is based on an investigative report completed in May by Chief Jason King at the Darlington Police Department.
King received a tip April 17 from a former county employee alleging Krentz campaigned for the re-election of County Board Chairman Jack Sauer in 2011 while on duty at the Manor.
"Mr. Sauer is believed by some citizens to have been a primary supporter of Krentz ... during what was perceived by those citizens as being a very controversial time in Lafayette Manor's recent history," King summarized in the report.
The complainant initially filed in July 2011 with the Government Accountability Board, according to King. Months later, GAB staff counsel Mike Haas responded that the complaint needed instead to be filed with local authorities.
Through interviews and public records requests, King found that Krentz filed paperwork during her normal working hours to establish a political action committee to re-elect Sauer, "Citizens for Truth in Government."
She also reportedly ordered campaign ads for Sauer in the Republican Journal newspaper while at work, during her normal working hours and using her Lafayette County email address.
Krentz admitted to King that she sent campaign-related emails while at work.
The county committee that oversees Lafayette Manor put her on paid leave Sept. 1, amid troubles at the nursing home that culminated this summer in several state health and quality-control violations and thousands of dollars in fines.
Krentz resigned last week.
Catherine A. Krentz, 60, Darlington, appeared for a sentencing hearing Wednesday, Nov. 21 in Lafayette County Circuit Court before Judge Thomas Vale. She previously pleaded not guilty to the forfeiture charge, but changed her plea to guilty at the hearing.
She is ordered to pay a $150 fine and $176.50 in court costs by Jan. 22. The offense is a non-traffic ordinance violation, and as such, does not carry a penalty of jail time.
The charge against her was filed in August and alleged she used her government position for her own gain. It is based on an investigative report completed in May by Chief Jason King at the Darlington Police Department.
King received a tip April 17 from a former county employee alleging Krentz campaigned for the re-election of County Board Chairman Jack Sauer in 2011 while on duty at the Manor.
"Mr. Sauer is believed by some citizens to have been a primary supporter of Krentz ... during what was perceived by those citizens as being a very controversial time in Lafayette Manor's recent history," King summarized in the report.
The complainant initially filed in July 2011 with the Government Accountability Board, according to King. Months later, GAB staff counsel Mike Haas responded that the complaint needed instead to be filed with local authorities.
Through interviews and public records requests, King found that Krentz filed paperwork during her normal working hours to establish a political action committee to re-elect Sauer, "Citizens for Truth in Government."
She also reportedly ordered campaign ads for Sauer in the Republican Journal newspaper while at work, during her normal working hours and using her Lafayette County email address.
Krentz admitted to King that she sent campaign-related emails while at work.
The county committee that oversees Lafayette Manor put her on paid leave Sept. 1, amid troubles at the nursing home that culminated this summer in several state health and quality-control violations and thousands of dollars in fines.
Krentz resigned last week.