The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Township Clerk Ann Marie McCarthy returned to her job March 9 after the Somerset County Prosecutor dropped insurance fraud charges against her.
McCarthy was “not available for comment” the day she returned, said Deputy Township Clerk Msiba Holliman. Holliman was Acting Clerk in McCarthy’s absence.
McCarthy was charged on Dec. 14, 2017 with 3rd Degree Insurance Fraud and 3rd Degree Theft by Deception. It was alleged that she engaged in the alleged fraud and theft and Horizon Blue Cross between Jan. 1, 2016 and Sept. 1, 2017.
McCarthy was suspended without pay after the township was notified of her arrest.
Acting Township Manager Vince Dominach said on March 9 that McCarthy had supplied paperwork to the township’s Human Relations department attesting to the charges being dropped. He said township attorney Lou Rainone would advise the township on whether she is eligible for back pay for the period in which she was suspended.
In an emailed statement, Mayor Phil Kramer said McCarthy was “greatly missed.”
“I’m glad she’s back,” he said. “It’s good for her and good for the town. I also want to acknowledge the tremendous effort her office put out to keep things running in her absence.”
Charges against McCarthy were dropped on March 2, after McCarthy’s daughter pleaded guilty to charges against her, said Somerset County Prosecutor spokesman Jack Bennett. Bennett did not specify what the charges were against McCarthy’s daughter, or when she was arrested.
Requests for comment from Rainone have not yet been answered.
McCarthy, 52, has been the township clerk for more than 14 years.
