Braselton court clerk arrested for stealing $15,000

Posted by
Mike Buffington
in Public Safety
Wednesday, July 1. 2009
Comments (33)
Braselton’s municipal court clerk has been arrested for allegedly stealing $15,000 in cash bond funds over a 10-month period, according to town officials.

Becky L. Skelton, 46, was terminated last Tuesday and turned herself into the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday. She later posted a $31,000 bond.

Skelton — an 11-year-year employee for the town — is accused of embezzling cash bond funds from Braselton’s municipal court, which handles fines stemming from the police department.

She is facing 14 counts of theft by taking and one count of violation of oath by a public officer.

For additional crime and court news, see the July 1 issue of The Jackson Herald.
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#1 Michael McCarthy on 07/02/09 at 06:35 AM [Reply]
Well, at least she had some bail money.

And how nice. She is allowed to turn herself in with dignity while most Jackson Co. residents with warrants against them are hauled away in handcuffs, with no time to arrange bail.

This means she didn't have to get dressed up in an orange jail uniform, shower and get sprayed down with bug spray like the rest of the suspects. Interesting.

Sure would be nice if government employees were treated the same as the rest of us. They can allegedly steal from us and then get better treatment than other citizens.
#1.1 FJCR on 07/03/09 at 10:14 AM [Reply]
No that's not entirely true Michael McCarthy.You said she was allowed to turn herself in with dignity unlike so many other people in Jackson Co. that have warrants that they haul off in handcuffs with no time to arrange bail? Could that be because people who have warrents won't go down and turn them self in? They run and dodge the law to keep from getting caught? They know when they get caught they are going to jail so they try and stay free as long as possible.
#1.1.1 Michael McCarthy on 07/06/09 at 11:19 AM [Reply]
How would we know if it isn't tried? Dekalb County does this and the vast majority of the time it works. Bail can be arranged and our jails would save money not needing to hold, feed and provide medical care to those prisoners simply waiting for the bail bondsman.

Most folks arrested are not evil. Some are actually innocent. Others have made mistakes that do not require a "cattle roundup" like they are violent criminals.

Violent criminals might even turn themselves in peacefully if given the opportunity.

Where are they going to go? They can't hide forever.
#1.1.1.1 FJCR on 07/06/09 at 02:57 PM [Reply]
What world do you live in? Is the sky pink? If you think a Violent criminal will just walk up to the jail and say here I am when he is facing 10 years in prison? You have lost your mind? You also said they can't hide forever? But they think they can.
Have you ever watched Americas Most wanted? If not you need to it comes on Saturday nights at 8:00P.M.on Ch.5
#1.1.1.1.1 Michael McCarthy on 07/06/09 at 08:19 PM [Reply]
FJCR: You have less confidence in the human spirit than I do. The ones that don't respond to the letters could be chased without having to worry about the others. I don't expect you to see my point of view. You and I are very different. For you handcuffs may be needed. For me, I'll turn myself in.
#1.1.1.1.1.1 FJCR on 07/07/09 at 10:17 AM [Reply]
Oh so Michael McCarthy you have confidence in the human spirit? I bet you get taken alot? I have faith too. I have faith in God and myself? Them is the only 2 people I trust to do what they say. With your thinking I guess we have no need for America's Most Wanted? You should really tune in and watch it some time.
#1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Michael McCarthy on 07/07/09 at 08:56 PM [Reply]
I'm sorry you feel the way you do. You don't trust your mother, brother, sister, friends, etc. I assure you that that is not the norm. Paranoia could be a symptom of a deeper problem. Most of us know that the human spirit is strong. The Most Wanted Show shows just a fringe of society that can't be trusted. This is a big country of 300 million people. There's always a rare rotten apple. That is a lot of people and generally we all get along nicely.

Someone convicted of 3 felonies might warrant your level of mistrust.
#1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 FJCR on 07/08/09 at 09:19 PM [Reply]
No Michael you don't understand what I meant? I mean the only people you can trust 100% is God and yourself. A human being will let you down sooner or later for whatever reason? They may not intend on letting you down but it happens. I trust my family and they would try to do everything they could to help me but sometimes things happen beyond our control that can't be helped?
#1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Michael McCarthy on 07/09/09 at 11:27 AM [Reply]
True.
#1.1.1.1.1.1.2 Brittany on 07/08/09 at 09:23 AM [Reply]
You have to face it...whether or not someone turns their self in is based on the way they were raised and their own morals...I will give her the respect that she was a honest citizen by turning herself in!
#1.2 brittany on 07/04/09 at 11:09 AM [Reply]
Amen...I guess its all who you know or who you go with!
#1.2.1 FJCR on 07/06/09 at 10:16 AM [Reply]
brittany you sound like a girl who has her head on straight?
But I want to pose another question to all the other folks that think this wasn't fair? If she hadn't went and turned herself in they would have went and got her. And the question is: If you had warrants and you knew when you got caught you would serve 10 years in prison would you just go turn yourself in? NO you would stay free as long as possible.
#1.2.1.1 Joseph on 07/07/09 at 11:15 AM [Reply]
Yes, but turning yourself in will only make it easier on you! Their more likley to treat you better vs someone who"tries to stay free as long as possible"! Some criminals have somewhat of a guilty mind set and end up walking down and turning them self's in knowing tat maybe the fact that they did so will allow for a better deal on their part as far as sentencing. Thats just my opinion on it!
#1.2.1.1.1 FJCR on 07/07/09 at 09:34 PM [Reply]
Well Joseph you have a better opinion about it than most do? I try not to do nothing to go to jail now but in the past I didn't care. I have walked up to the back of a police car opened the door and sat down and said lets go.
#1.2.1.1.1.1 Michael McCarthy on 07/08/09 at 04:07 PM [Reply]
It goes easier all the way around when one does that.
#2 ticked off on 07/07/09 at 11:36 AM [Reply]
I hope there is no leniency shown in her case!

She got caught stealing $15k in 10 months... How much did she take over her 11 YEARS working there?
#2.1 Brittany on 07/08/09 at 09:21 AM [Reply]
Amen..but like I said it is all in who you know or go with!!
#3 Mike on 07/09/09 at 08:33 PM [Reply]
I worked with Becky for 9 years at a previous job and this is out of character for her. There must more to than meets the eye. Maybe if we knew the whole story we would think different.
#3.1 Michael McCarthy on 07/09/09 at 09:25 PM [Reply]
Yeah, like maybe there's a good reason for stealing the taxpayers' money.
#3.1.1 FJCR on 07/10/09 at 11:03 AM [Reply]
Ok Michael and I guess you seen her take the money? If you never seen her take the money THEN you can't say she did it? We could say you took the money but that wouldn't be fair would it? You would say we needed proof you did it before we say you did? RIGHT What happen to innocent until proven guilty?
#3.1.1.1 Michael McCarthy on 07/10/09 at 12:51 PM [Reply]
You're right. I'll give you that.
#3.1.1.1.1 FJCR on 07/10/09 at 10:35 PM [Reply]
I'm so glad you agree? I read these stories with an open mind like I have never heard anything about the case before. I read the story just like I am on a jury and hearing the case for the first time. Every story is not always as it sounds?
I'm just saying keep an open mind and hear all the evidence before you form an opinion wether they are guilty or not?
#3.2 FJCR on 07/09/09 at 10:29 PM [Reply]
Mike that's what I said. They need to look at the people higher up than just her? These people steal money and when it is found money is missing they find someone else to take the fall for it? If they don't catch them this time who ever is taking it may stop for a while but when they get someone else in there they can blame it on this will start all over again?
I would look at the person in that office that noticed the money gone? You don't take money that you are the only one that has access to? Or she thought she was the only one with access to the money but someone else did too? BUT they are not going to tell that now?
#3.2.1 Michael McCarthy on 07/10/09 at 10:20 AM [Reply]
You are quite the conspiracy theorist.
#3.2.1.1 FJCR on 07/10/09 at 02:14 PM [Reply]
No not really but everything is not so simple. You like many others that have read this story have already made up your mind that she did it so you say lock her up? I don't believe everything I read UNTIL I hear all the evidence from both sides.
#3.2.1.1.1 Michael McCarthy on 07/10/09 at 09:02 PM [Reply]
I was comparing "her" pre-trial treatment with "others". I was not convicting her. I could sit on a jury with an open mind. The burden of guilt is on the government beyond any "reasonable" doubt.
#3.2.1.1.1.1 FJCR on 07/11/09 at 05:39 PM [Reply]
Sooo her pre-trial treatment was not like others? Ok let me ask you Do you think they should treat her the same as some junkie who just raped and murdered 5 people?
#3.2.1.1.1.1.1 Michael McCarthy on 07/12/09 at 08:51 PM [Reply]
"Allegedly a junkie who just raped and murdered 5 people" Innocent before proven guilty. Yes, I do. Equal protection under the law.

If I get put in handcuffs and dragged to jail with no opportunity to arrange bail beforehand then why would you suggest a government employee be treated better? This makes me bitter to see I'm treated worse than someone's buddy when I am also a taxpayer.

Are government employees special or should we all be treated the same?
#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.1 FJCR on 07/14/09 at 04:13 AM [Reply]
Michael I guess you would feel this same way if this junkie just raped and murdered your whole family?
I guess if you were put in handcuffs and dragged to jail you would also like the opportunity to arrange a dinner party,maybe go shopping,hey I got it maybe you could host a going away party for yourself?
So this makes you bitter? So now you going to go on a killing spree????
#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Michael McCarthy on 07/14/09 at 08:56 AM [Reply]
FJCR: The civility of your argument has ceased to exist. You have no logic and obviously you are an idiot. I've wasted too much time on you.

PS Question marks are only for questions. Go back to grade school and start over.
#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 FJCR on 07/15/09 at 03:44 AM [Reply]
Michael you say question marks are only for questions? Are you really that dense and dumb? See that was a question. I went back and reread my post again and everywhere I put a question mark was at the end of a question that I was asking to YOU?
You keep saying I need to go back to grade school but is it you that is hiding something? And you say you have wasted too time on me? I guess I don't have to worry about reading another post from you directed at me and my redneck upbringing?
#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.2 Michael McCarthy on 07/15/09 at 08:27 AM [Reply]
You're a moron.
#3.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1 FJCR on 07/15/09 at 05:24 PM [Reply]
Hey Michael you also lie too. You said and I quote"You've wasted too much time on me" but I guess you had one more childish thing to say about me in your pea brain head? That was a question that requires a yes or no answer. I may be a moron but you are an IDIOT. That was not a question it was a statement notice the period but a question has a Question mark like this "?"
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