Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon Woman Charged In Hot Spring County

Former Magnet Cove Superintendent Harlan Buttrum, of Malvern, will be arraigned on three felony theft charges March 5.

This is in connection with problems at the end of his seven-year stint with the district.

Additionally, a 41-year-old Gurdon woman faces two counts of theft in the incident. Mary C. Young was Buttrum's former assistant.

According to information filed in Malvern, the two allegedly diverted school funds through businesses they owned and into their personal accounts.

A separate charge against Buttrum claims he ran up phone bills of $12,1001 in private calls on school phones.

Young was released on a $25,000 bond, while Buttrum was released on a bond of $50,000.

According to the affidavit, the thefts allegedly took place between 1997-2000.

A state police investigator, Shannon Shepherd, stated in the affidavit there were five checks, totaling $10,200 paid to Vega Consulting, a company owned by Young. These were payments for writing nine grant applications for the district. But, records state, eight of the nine applications can't be found, nor were IRS 1099 forms issued for the payments .

The affidavit also states Buttrum directed contracting and construction of kindergarten, band and administration buildings, paying Lyra Building and Design Concepts for work done on the projects. The company was reportedly owned by the two.

Young is represented by Malvern Attorney Larry Horton, who says these are "BS charges" and doesn't think the jury will convict.

"She didn't do anything," Horton said of his client. "She denies all charges."

According to Horton, the state and prosecution is hounding his client to get Buttrum.

As of press time, Horton hadn't received the information under discovery the prosecution is basing its case on.