A State audit of the New Lebanon town court found more than $9,000 of court funds unaccounted for. Investigators from the office of the State Comptroller reviewed the financial operations of the town's Justice Court from Jan. 2008, to July 2009, while two justices, Shaun McHugh and Darcy Poppey, presided. Poppey just lost the election this year by one vote, after first being elected in 2008. Justice Shaun McHugh has since been replaced by Jessica Byrne following the 2009 elections. The audit identified $9,050 as unaccounted for and $2,190 in questionable transactions, and has been referred to state Commission on Judicial Conduct for investigation of possible wrongdoing, according to the Times-Union's Bob Gardinier. The 45-page audit found serious deficiencies in the town court's accounts:

"The lack of basic controls has placed court moneys at significant risk of loss, misuse and fraud."

Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.