HOPEWELL — City Treasurer Shannon Foskey told a Circuit Court judge Wednesday morning that she plans to hire an attorney to defend her against allegations of computer fraud and falsification of records, but the prosecution raises questions about his apparent choice of a city-contracted attorney. to manage invoice collection.

A Spotsylvania County special prosecutor is expected to be appointed to handle the case, but Hopewell Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jessica Bailey told the court she is concerned Foskey wants to retain Jason Dunn of Virginia Beach as his attorney. Dunn is the lead in collecting overdue real estate bills in Hopewell and works regularly with the Treasurer’s Office.

Bailey told Circuit Court Judge Carson Saunders Jr. that there could be a “major conflict of interest” in Dunn representing Foskey. Saunders agreed to continue Wednesday’s hearing until Nov. 6 so the prosecutor’s concerns could be further explored.

Foskey, who spoke briefly during the hearing, left the courtroom without speaking to reporters gathered in the hallway.

Wednesday was the 39-year-old’s first court appearance since he was indicted Oct. 8 on allegations of falsifying computer records to get himself off a Department of Motor Vehicles “stop list.” of Virginia which prohibits residents from engaging in permit-related transactions until back taxes are paid. paid. The action was revealed by a whistleblower’s report which claimed that Foskey only paid the back taxes under pressure from the city government and that, even then, he did not not satisfied with the entire bill.

In addition to the fraud and forgery charges, Foskey also faces one count of making or transmitting a false computer record and disabling computer software. Each charge is a felony and carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years plus fines.

Foskey has denied the allegations and still visits the office. She has not yet indicated whether she will leave the position she was elected for in 2022.

The treasurer is one of Hopewell’s five constitutional officials elected directly by the town’s voters. The others are the Commonwealth’s Attorney, the Sheriff, the Commissioner of Revenue, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Foskey has been frequently singled out by the Robert Bobb Group, a consulting firm the city hired last year to help save its stagnant financial management system. Due to some of the group’s recommendations, the town is working to shift oversight of accounting functions from the treasurer to Hopewell’s chief financial officer.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers news, government and politics. Contact him at [email protected] or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell treasurer makes first court appearance since indictment.