ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Channel 9 is investigating a second controversial hire by the Orange County clerk of courts.
When reporter Kathi Belich tried to get answers on Tuesday, Tiffany Moore Russell backed out of an interview.
Last week, Belich exposed how Russell had hired her sorority sister and convicted felon Roberta Walton for a new $75,000-a-year position.
The newly created position came during a hiring freeze and budget cuts at the clerk's office.
The clerk's spokesman told Channel 9 Walton, who is also an attorney, was hired before Russell knew the extent of state budget cuts. But Belich obtained documents that contradict that and highlight Walton's crimes 15 year ago.
Walton admitted to her federal convictions when she applied to be the court clerk's first self-help center division manager.
Court records show when Walton was a bank teller, going by the name Riggins, she cashed $26,000 in stolen Georgia income tax refund checks. It was part of a $230,000 scheme, and she kept $2,000 for herself, documents show.
Walton could have spent a year in prison but served five years of probation after snitching on her nine co-defendants.
Russell backed out of WFTV's interview on Tuesday, having her spokesman answer questions about Walton instead.
"Is she the only attorney in town that could've handled this position?" asked Belich.
"Certainly not," said spokesman Dain Weister.
"But she's the only attorney in town who was given the opportunity," said Belich.
"Well, she wasn't the only one," said Weister.
Russell posted the new job to help people who can't afford attorneys in-house only for five days over a weekend as a "pre-identified candidate selected" position.
"Over a weekend in-house only? What was the point of that if she already knew who she was going to hire?" asked Belich.
"Well, she didn't necessarily decide it. She recommended it," said Weister.
The clerk's spokesman said Walton was hired because of her legal and social work background.
Walton has filed for bankruptcy twice in the last few years without following through, but now she'll be managing her new division's budget, Belich said.
As for the claim that Walton was hired before Russell knew there would be a budget cut, Belich obtained a state memo sent to all clerks 22 days before Russell posted the newly created position. It repeatedly warned clerks in May to start preparing for more than a 3.2 percent budget reduction.
WFTV
