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Star News TV
REIDSVILLE, N.C. — Nothing says “Thanks, taxpayer!” quite like being asked to help foot the legal bill for city employees who are now facing criminal charges.
That's the question some Reidsville residents are asking after the Reidsville City Council voted 5-2 to pay legal fees for city employees who have recently been charged with forgery-related offenses.
The controversy comes as two City of Reidsville directors are facing arrest warrants following a state investigation that turned allegations involving city employees into criminal charges.
The Rockingham County District Attorney's Office says a grand jury returned true bills against Haywood Nebraska Cloud Jr., 54, and Drew G. Bigelow, 29.
Arrest warrants have been issued for both on charges of common law forgery and common law uttering of forged paper.
And now comes the part that has some residents scratching their heads:
Who pays the lawyers?
According to the council vote, apparently the answer is Reidsville taxpayers.
The 5-2 vote authorizes the city to cover the legal fees, prompting residents to question whether public money should be used to defend employees accused of crimes allegedly connected to their city employment.
Of course, being charged with a crime doesn't mean someone is guilty. Both defendants are entitled to due process and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
But that hasn't stopped residents from asking a perfectly reasonable question:
If taxpayers are paying the salaries, and now paying the legal bills, exactly where does the city's responsibility to the taxpayers end?
Cloud and Bigelow are now facing the criminal justice system while the city deals with the fallout from the investigation.
For Reidsville taxpayers, the issue isn't simply what's happening in a courtroom.
It's also about what's happening in the city checkbook.
And judging from the questions being raised, some residents would like a few answers before another taxpayer-funded legal bill lands on the desk.
Star News will continue following the Reidsville investigation and the controversy surrounding the council's decision to pay the legal fees.
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