Saturday, May 05, 2007
By Tommy Witherspoon
Tribune-Herald staff writer
A Waco police detective investigating alleged misuse of Downtown Waco Inc. funds by its former executive director has delivered a portion of his case to McLennan County District Attorney John Segrest.
MULTIMEDIA: Segrest confirmed Friday that he received a folder of police reports late Thursday that outline part of Detective Charles Jaquith’s investigation of reported thefts of Downtown Waco Inc. funds by Margaret Mills.
Mills, 66, who led the downtown development agency for 18 years and is credited for much of downtown Waco’s rebirth, remains free on $25,000 bail after her April arrest on first-degree felony theft charges.
An affidavit to support her arrest filed by Jaquith alleges that Mills stole $268,458 by misusing agency checks and debit and credit cards and by diverting members’ dues checks into her personal bank account.
The affidavit says other questionable expenses could push the total as high as $500,000. The theft-over-$200,000 charge could carry a punishment of five years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
While Segrest will recuse his office from any potential prosecution of Mills’ case, he has said he must first review the case to determine if there is sufficient evidence to warrant a prosecution before asking the state attorney general’s office to step in.
Mills’ attorney, Rick Bostwick, declined comment Friday on the latest development in the seven-month investigation.
Segrest declined additional comment about the case. However, he has said a special prosecutor will not be named until his office and “financial experts trained in the detection, assessment and prosecution of complex white-collar cases” have reviewed the evidence.
McLennan County Sheriff Larry Lynch confirmed Friday that Segrest has asked Capt. Paul Wash, a certified public accountant who serves as Lynch’s administrative officer, to assist with the review of the evidence.
Segrest, who said he doesn’t know if the attorney general will accept the case if prosecution is warranted, has said he is taking his office off the case because his father, Claude Segrest, and Margaret Mills’ husband, Coke Mills, practiced law together in Waco for many years. Also, Segrest and Coke Mills have been active together in local Democratic Party politics over the years.
“At no point in this process will any member of this office participate in post-investigative issues,” Segrest has said. “We will not engage in any decision to seek formal charges, in any preparation and presentation at trial or before a grand jury, in any discussion concerning a proper disposition, in any court appearance and any other matter of a prosecutorial nature. Those will be exclusively in the purview of the special prosecutor.”
Downtown Waco Inc.’s own investigation last fall found more than a half-million dollars of questionable financial transactions. The agency’s internal analysis showed at least $410,575 in “questioned check activity” between October 2002 and July 31, 2006, with yet other financial irregularities pushing the total beyond the half-million dollar mark.
The downtown development agency has since closed its offices.
twitherspoon@wacotrib.com
757-5737
Comments
By Jan
Apr 6, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
If I had some of the money Mills stole, I could buy my son out of our prison system. I have found to my sorrow that the law works best for those with a big name or a lot of money. Justice,I don't think so!
By Waco Needs Help
Apr 5, 2007 5:59 PM | Link to this
She needs to go to prison. She's been doing this for quite a while apparently. Her husband had to have known about this and should have turned her in or tried to get her help. Apparently he liked the money, too.
It's no wonder downtown Waco suffers from suckiness. Everyone running from the Hispanic Chamber to Downtown Waco, Inc., appear to be crooks and self interested parties.
Downtown Waco could be really cool if the City Council and these organizations would get off their lazy, crooked duffs.
$250,000 would have fixed up an entire building in that area. What the hell? She BETTER get some serious jail time. Had this been a normal criminal - they'd get 5 years for stealing that much money.
By inquiring mind
Apr 5, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
Perhaps I misunderstood DA Segrest's comment. As of late Monday, detectives had not presented his office with a case involving Mills.
How can an arrest warrant be issued without the DA filing charges? I know a judge issues the warrant, but for some odd reason I always thought the prosecutor was involved in the felony processes..... I'm hoping the comment was an error on the part of the newspaper. Otherwise, DA Segrest needs to explain how he prosecutes a case to his constituents.
These detectives are going to work slow and methodically to insure the evidence will stand up in court. In the other 253 counties in Texas, the district attorney is involved in this process.....
I suggest that everyone call Segrest and ask him
about this....
inquiring mind
By SAD
Apr 4, 2007 11:10 PM | Link to this
I am sad to see what a waste, this lady threw away her freedom and her good names. I can not write ugly things about her, I do not know her and I am sure she will get hers.In the end God gives us all we will have coming to us .
By PaulaD
Apr 4, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this
Oh how I miss living in Waco. Everything pales as to what is happening in Waco, Texas. I love it.
I don't understand how she got the position in the first place, what are and were her qualifications? Where was the board all these years and why was there never an audit? The board and the City of Waco should be taken to task also, they should have been more diligent with the tax payers money. Margaret Mills, SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!!!!!! You knew precisely what you were doing and you just continued doing it. WHAT WRE YOU THINKING??? You deserve the maximum punishment, but it will not happen.
Best to you in the after life. girlfriend.
By The voice of Reason
Apr 4, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this
As to the questions of MRS. MILLS guilt or innocence. I
would think a $70,000 restitution check address that.
It will be of great interest to see if local retailers come
forward with other legends of larceny down through the years.
Time will tell, how about it retailers anything to add?
By alex
Apr 4, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this
I do wonder if she got treated favorably, but no more than that drunken fool Billy Joe. I wonder if I shot somebody in the face, regardless if it were in self defense, if i would be allowed to be rushed through the system so I could attend a prior engagement? Don't think so.
By Eric
Apr 4, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this
Margaret Mills is not sorry for what she did, she's sorry because she got caught doing it. She could have come foward and admitted to what she did but did she? Yes pray for her and forgive but you never forget.
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