Former Circuit Clerk Shelly Ashley-Palmertree pleaded guilty Monday to stealing $103,736.75 meant as restitution for 72 crime victims.

Finally we have an admission of guilt, now it’s time to pay up the rest of what is owed the residents of Warren County.

Warren County District 1 Supervisor John Arnold said he was displeased with the former circuit clerk not receiving additional jail time.

“We as supervisors have fought for this and spent tax money from Warren County to see that justice is and justice has not been done. It has been swept under the rug just like it has in the past,” Arnold said.

District 4 Supervisor Bill Lauderdale also expressed dissatisfaction.

“They’ll sweep it under the rug and that’s the last we’ll see of anything. That’s the way the whole case has gone from the state all the way down,” Lauderdale said.

From our standpoint the case hasn’t been swept under the rug. However, supervisors’ actions over the course of accounting irregularities that date back to 2006 can be considered turning a blind eye.

A civil case still lingers in Hinds County Chancery Court that centers on whether she owes the county $671,751.75 in excessive salary above the state-set cap for circuit and chancery clerks and questionable subcontractor payments to her father and predecessor in office, Larry Ashley. The amounts cover activity from 2006 through 2011. The state and county countersued and contend the payments were improper. The state and county amended their complaint to include payments in 2012 deemed improper, bringing the total claim to more than $1.04 million.

The board of supervisors knew of these irregularities, yet no action was taken. It wasn’t until State Auditor Stacey Pickering’s office became involved that any action was taken.

Palmertree is not alone in accepting blame, there’s plenty to go around.