Former Augusta Co I-T Officer Indicted--SNL

The grand jury directly indicted the former Augusta County information technology director Monday after county property was reportedly found inside his home, according to information provided by the sheriff's office.Rick L. Vernier is charged with misuse of public assets with a value of more than $1,000.Lt. A.C. Powers, an investigator with the Augusta County Sheriff's Office, said authorities were notified about two months ago through an anonymous tip that property belonging to Augusta County was taken by Vernier and could be found inside his Stuarts Draft home. Powers said county computers and equipment worth more than $1,000 were discovered in the residence."Most of it was recovered," Powers said.Augusta County hired Vernier in March 1999. "He resigned Aug. 18," said County Administrator Pat Coffield. Vernier's salary was $84,820 at the time of his resignation.On Tuesday, Coffield said there are no plans to fill the position anytime soon."Yesterday, I proposed to the board that we keep it vacant ... through the remainder of the fiscal year," he said.Vernier faces the possibility of a 10-year prison term if convicted of the felony charge.