Public worker denies he embezzled money from county

UPDATE: 3-17-17 Former Bannock County Public Works Director Dan Copeland denies being involved in any illegal action while serving in the post. In a statement issued through his attorney Friday, Copeland said he took no action that was knowingly illegal. He said he fully and completely cooperated with a county investigation into a $600,000 budget shortfall and that he did not embezzle or benefit from that money. Copeland said the reason the landfill ran over budget was because of construction cost overruns and that should have been clear from audits conducted by the Bannock County Commission last November.
ORIGINAL STORY: Bannock County officials are looking for a forensic auditor to help trace apparently misplaced county funds. County Clerk Robert Poleki discovered landfill operations were approximately $623,000 over budget about six months ago. An investigation was launched after Public Works Director Dan Copeland left his position earlier this month.