Photo Credit: Chattanooga Times Free Press
PIKEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The mayor of Pikeville has been arrested and charged with misusing more than $170,000 in city money.
Greg Johnson was charged on Wednesday with official misconduct and felony theft after an investigation into city finances by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury.
District Attorney Mike Taylor told the Chattanooga Times Free Press his office started receiving complaints early this year about the purchase of some used city vehicles. He said other complaints followed, alleging Johnson was using public funds for his own purposes. The prosecutor called in state auditors. A grand jury returned indictments Monday.
The newspaper reported Johnson did not come to the mayor's office on Thursday and calls to his home were not returned. He was released on bond after being booked into the Bledsoe County Jail.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)