Christine Durlam

Woman accused of taking $29K from township

By JARED STRONG

j.strong@carrollspaper.com

A 51-year-old rural Jefferson woman is accused of theft and fraud for writing about $29,000 worth of improper checks from a Bristol Twp. bank account over the course of about four years, according to court records.

Christine Joan Durlam faces up to 12 years in prison if she is convicted of the crimes.

Durlam gained access to the township checkbook while her husband, Justin, was the township’s clerk, court records show.

“Justin advised he knew Christine was writing checks on the Bristol Township account for a couple years,” according to a criminal complaint. “Justin said he tried hiding the checkbook, but it did not help.”

Bristol Twp. lies just northwest of Jefferson. 

The alleged thefts were discovered when Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams began an inquiry into the township’s finances because it had not paid what it owed other municipalities for fire protection.

Since the start of the investigation, Christine Durlam has repaid the township about $15,000, court records show. 

The theft charge she faces is a felony.

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