State audit reels in TWRA employee

Jan. 23– A Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency secretary working out of the Jackson office was pocketing cash collected at pay-to-fish ponds and lakes, a special report from the state comptroller of the treasury released today reveals.

A "pay lake" is a private body of water that charges a fee to fish, a fee per pound of fish, or a fee only if a fish is caught.

According to the audit, the missing funds, totaling nearly $4,700 for the period of May through October of 2009, came from honor boxes at various lakes

Pam Lefler, the former secretary for the TWRA Region I office which serves Hardin County, admitted to keeping the pay lake funds, telling authorities she was "under extreme financial distress" and took the money with the intent of paying it back later.

An $810 cash fee for the sale of a lifetime sportsman license was also discovered missing. Lemler admitted to making the sale, but said she did not know what happened to the money.

The audit says Lemler was fired by the TWRA for gross conduct and forfeited 240 hours of annual leave worth approximately $2,616.

The state comptroller’s office was notified last May that Lemler entered a guilty plea to one count of theft of property over $1,000. She was sentenced to three years deferred probation because she qualified for judicial diversion.

Lemler was also fined $100, ordered to pay restitution of $2,083 and complete 100 hours of community service.

If the conditions of her probation are met, Lemler will become eligible to have her record expunged.