Auditor’s Office Arrests Former Jones County Deputy Chancery Clerk

Special agents with the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor arrested Christy Hodge, a former Jones County deputy chancery clerk, on allegations she altered official county records, the auditor’s office said.

The office said Hodge allegedly altered and submitted bank statements between June and August 2025 to conceal the conversion of $13,356.89 in public funds to her personal use.

The auditor’s office said the funds were later recovered and deposited to the appropriate county depository. State Auditor Shad White said in a statement, “Stealing taxpayer dollars only holds Mississippi back from helping citizens and is completely unacceptable. We will continue to do everything in our power to recover misspent money for taxpayers.”

The office said Hodge faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted and noted that all persons arrested by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The auditor’s office said suspected fraud can be reported via the red button on its website or by calling (800) 321-1275 during normal business hours.

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