SOUTHAVEN, MS (abc24.com) - A former Shelby County Commissioner is accused of embezzling money at a Southaven bowling alley.
Investigators arrested Thomas Hart on Friday, May 4. Police say Hart was supposed to handle the bowling league prize money at the Cotton Bowl Lanes Bowling Center, but stole it instead.
"This year when we tried to get our money, back from our leagues, we never got an answer. Made four requests and no one ever responded to me," said Frank Woodson, President of the Cotton Bowl Lanes Bowling League. Hart is accused of pocketing nearly $30,000, "$18,000 in one league, and $11,000 in the other," Woodson said.
Hart is currently on the Transition Planning Commission, the group working on the unified school plan for Memphis City and Shelby County Schools. He told abc24.com he has no plans to step down in light of his arrest, and stated that the whole thing is a misunderstanding.
"When you get to be 70 years old, and this is the first time in your life you experienced anything like this, it is not a proud experience," Hart said. "We had a change in our accounting department, we had a change in management of this, so, it is a lot of balls in motion."
Thomas Hart was booked at the DeSoto County Jail and has since been released on bond. As for where the bowling leagues' money is, Hart replied, "I can't answer that."
