Richard Bohling’s case for misusing government funds has been moved to the District Court after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Bohling was accused of using Albany County Attorney’s Office funds to purchase items for personal use.
Former Albany County Attorney Richard Bohling waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Friday, Feb. 20 and his case is now in the district court, where he faces six felony charges and three misdemeanors.
This follows news that state prosecutors changed the four felony larceny counts to four counts of obtaining property under false pretenses. This was done “so that state’s legal theory may better match the facts of the case.”
The potential penalty for the amended crimes is the same as they were for the larceny charges, up to ten years imprisonment, and a fine up to $10,000.
In addition to the four counts of obtaining property under false pretenses, Bohling is also being charged with another felony, wrongful taking or disposing of property. This means that he “did buy, receive, conceal, or dispose of property which he knew, believed, or had reasonable cause to believe was obtained in violation of the law,” according to court documents.
His other felony charge is a false claim or vouchers charge, and he has three additional misdemeanor charges. These are official misconduct, wrongful appropriation of public property and misuse of office.
Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began an investigation into Bohling on March 17, after receiving information from Sheriff David O’Malley.
A former employee at the Albany County Attorney’s office wrote a document accusing him of misusing funds, which ultimately led to the investigation.
In the document, the employee said, “Richard had been using office funds to buy personal items for him and his family for a long time, and that the spending had gotten worse.”
She then mentioned a confidential source accusing Bohling of purchasing tablet computers for his family.
The employee said, “The only specific example I remember [a fellow Albany County Attorney employee] giving was that Richard bought iPads for his wife and son with county funds.”
Jackie Gonzales, Albany County Clerk, did a “quiet audit” of the Albany County Attorney office receipts and vouchers, and found that $19,936.34 of the expenditures was questionable.
At least 181 items, valued at $14,690.68, on this list were never seen in the office by the confidential source.
Employees recall Bohling bringing in a camera and asking them to learn to use it, because “sometimes the cops don’t take good pictures.”
Both Sheriff David O’Malley and Laramie Police Department Chief Dale Stalder said that Bohling never complained about picture quality to them before.
DCI executed a search warrant on May 1 and found numerous cameras and accessories in the office. Legal assistant Melissa Irvine said Bohling brought in “a lot of stuff” in the previous two weeks including backpacks and totes.
