Lost money in Yuma court vault spurs probe

The Associated Press State and Local Wire
DATELINE: YUMA Ariz.

Yuma County, AZ

Sheriff's deputies in Yuma County are trying to find out how more than $2,000 in cash was lost from an evidence vault at the local courthouse.  The money was gone when a worker at the Yuma County Superior Court went to retrieve it from the vault on Mon-day. Jeff Mangis of the court clerk's office says the money had been in the vault since 2007 and was needed because the case was set to go to trial. Records show it was never checked out.

Mangis says it isn't known if the money was misplaced or stolen. He says only five workers have access to the evidence vault and no one is allowed to enter alone. The case involving the seized money was set to go to trial on Tuesday but a plea deal was reached. Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Eben Bratcher says deputies are investigating.

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