Middlecamp Reacts to Former Buchanan Treasurer Embezzlement Case - FOX 21/27 WFXR Roanoke/WWCW Lynchburg News, Weather

When former treasurer Wanda Smith was sentenced last Thursday, it was the end of a difficult chapter for Buchanan.

Former Mayor Tom Middlecamp discovered missing town money last December, eventually leading to Smith's firing after investigators linked her to the money.

"I didn't know what to believe," Middlecamp said. "It hit me all of a sudden. It's like being kicked in the stomach. Here it was a person I work with for 20 years, held in high esteem, and I trusted her. Then this is brought to my attention. It was really disheartening."

Smith eventually pled guilty to 12 counts of embezzlement and, last week, she was sentenced to three years in prison along with paying Buchanan $145,000 in restitution.

Even though Middlecamp is now retired as mayor and Smith is beginning a three-year prison sentence, he said it's still a difficult subject to talk about.

"Her being in jail and going to the penitentiary is nothing to be happy about," he said. "But she did it to herself."

Before leaving office, Middlecamp put several new procedures in place, including hiring a certified public accountant and making daily deposits.

But Middlecamp has one warning.

"Trust is not enough when you're handling municipal money," he said. "I found out in this situation right here that you have to have professional people and be checked on on a regular basis."

It's those changes that has Middlecamp confident about his town's future.