9-26-12 —     Former Wayne County Clerk Melissa Turpin was arrested in Pulaski  County on Thursday, September 20 and charged with one count of second  degree forgery.

    The arrest was made following an investigation by Kentucky Attorney  General Jack Conway. Turpin, 39, of Monticello, is accused of forging  the signature of Pulaski County Clerk Ralph Troxtell on a title for a  

2006 Toyota Highlander, which was sold on Craig's List to a Maryland  resident, according to Conway.

    A spokesperson from Conway's office said the investigation began in  mid-July, after his office received a complaint regarding the alleged  forgery.  During the course of the investigation, Troxtell confirmed  that he did not sign the title, according to the spokesperson.

    Investigators from Conway's Department of Criminal Investigation  (DCI) made the arrest. Turpin, who is the office manager and title  clerk at Somerset Auto Auction, was transported to the Pulaski County  

Detention Center.

    She was released that day on $5,000 bond.

    Turpin is currently on probation in Wayne Circuit Court, where she  pled guilty in 2009 to charges of theft and abuse of a public trust  over $10,000. The charges stemmed from deficits in audits of her  

office. She resigned from office in October 2009.

    The plea deal for Turpin called for a 10 year sentence. She served  60 days in jail and 120 days on home incarceration. The balance of  her sentence was probated.

    Turpin is also on probation in Franklin Circuit Court for filing  false tax returns and failure to pay tax.