It’s alarming to us that three years after an elaborate manipulation of the books of the Perry County Sheriff’s Office was uncovered by the state auditor’s office, there has yet to be any resolution.

According to the Herald’s reporting, there have to date been no charges filed against any one individual responsible for the theft who, over several years, stole at least $573,000 from the taxpayers of Perry County.

In contrast, a similar theft from the Perry County Clerk’s Office in 2009, again uncovered by the auditor’s office, came to a resolution in a little over a year’s time with an investigation completed by the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office. That case involved a deficit of roughly $21,000, a fraction of the amount of the money missing from the books of the sheriff’s office.

Upon calling the FBI and the AG’s office, Herald reporters were quickly given a “no comment,” and we can certainly understand that reaction when investigations are potentially ongoing. But we can’t understand why a case as seemingly clear cut as this has gone for so long without any sort of resolution, whether it be to clear or indict those thought responsible.

For most federal offenses, prosecutors can only file charges before five years of the date of the crime, and it seems that date is close to passing if it hasn’t already as, according to the audit, the last deficit came in 2006. So, is it safe to assume that this particular case has been left on the back burner, or should we as taxpayers expect there to be some sort of resolution in the near future?

We think it’s only fair that we at least get an answer.