Misuse of Richland County, S.C., Gas Card Charged

Aug. 10–A former Richland County employee was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with using one of the county’s BP credit cards for her own use and giving it to one of her co-workers.

Linda Kay Rutland was arrested by agents from the State Law Enforcement Division. She’s charged with using the credit card for $276.41 without authorization, according to an arrest warrant.

Rutland, an accounts payable specialist in the county’s finance department, and a co-worker have repaid the money they charged to the card, SLED spokesman Mike Brown said.

SLED is looking for the co-worker. But the co-worker is believed to have left town, Brown said. SLED officials said they did not know the co-worker’s name.

Rutland was employed with the county from August 1996 to April 2005, according to county records.

She told The State on Tuesday that she used the card the first time for the county to see whether it was working, then put it back in her drawer.

“Then one day I had no money and no gas, so I used it again,” she said. “One of the employees who worked there asked to use it. I should have said no, and I didn’t.”

Rutland used the card from August 2004 to December 2004, according to the arrest warrant.

She lost her job in April and spent most of Tuesday in jail.

By Gina Smith and Adam Beam

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