Wife of embezzler asks for reprieve of debt

Wife of embezzler asks for reprieve of debt

By Nick Coltrain
It’s been eight years — and more than $80,000 in restitution payments — since her husband embezzled money from Twin Falls County, and now Carol Fort wants the ordeal to be over.

Fort and her husband, former County Clerk Bob Fort, have less than $5,000 left in restitution debt for his theft of more than $60,000 from the county to feed his gambling addiction. Bob Fort also served a year in prison after pleading guilty to the crime in 2003. He signed over more than $66,000 from his retirement fund to the county before serving his sentence.

Carol Fort asked the Twin Falls County Commission to waive the remaining court-ordered debt Thursday afternoon so she could retire. The 71-year-old has glaucoma, an eye disorder that is robbing her ability to perform as a highway district clerk.

“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, but it felt like this was the right time,” Carol Fort said.

The commissioners took her request under consideration so they could ask the county prosecutor if they even had the power to grant it.

Carol Fort has about a year left of the $350 monthly payments. They come from her paycheck since her husband only works part-time. Because payment comes from her check, she said she arranged the meeting and attended it alone.

The three commissioners said they will have no opinions on the request until they speak with the prosecutor. Commissioner Terry Kramer said they will give Carol Fort a response within two weeks.