ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — A married couple was indicted for misappropriating funds from the Anderson County Rescue Squad between May 2021 and April 2022, according to the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury.
An investigation from the Comptroller's Office found that Alex and Jessica Ridenour served as volunteers for ACRS. During that time, the Ridenour's misappropriated rescue squad funds totaling at least $39,310.97.
The rescue squad is primarily funded by contributions from the Anderson County government, donations and fundraisers.
The Ridenour's resigned from the rescue squad in May 2022.
The Comptoller's Office said the couple wrote 17 unauthorized checks totaling $35,010.97 from the rescue squad bank account to Jessica Ridenour and five unauthorized checks totaling $4,3000 to Alex Ridenour. The checks were deposited into their joint bank account.
The rescue squad’s board chairman then told investigators that someone else signed his name on some of the checks, according to the Comptroller's Office.
In September 2024, the Anderson County Grand Jury indicted the couple. Both face one count of theft of property over $10,000, three counts of forgery over $2,500 and one count of conspiracy to commit theft of property over $10,000, according to the Comptroller's Office.