The case involving a former public official from Wayne County accused of misusing town funds while serving in elected office has wrapped up.
Susie C. Jacobs, the former Walworth Town Supervisor, pled guilty to Misapplication of Property on July 7 at Wayne County Court, according to a press release issued by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
Jacobs entered an Alford plea, which is a plea that allows the accused to avoid admissions and maintain her innocence, to resolve a threatened prosecution —which in this instance, was premised upon novel theories of criminal liability and would have required lengthy court proceedings to defend
Detectives say Jacobs authorized payments to herself totaling $12,293 between September 14, 2021, and January 1, 2022. The money was for comptroller duties, but investigators state she never had approval from the Town Board to issue those payments.
The Sheriff’s Office confirmed the investigation concluded with Jacobs being ordered to pay full restitution to the Town of Walworth. She was released on a conditional discharge.
STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF SUSIE JACOBS RECEIVED ON 7/22/25
On July 7th, former Walworth Town Supervisor Susie Jacobs entered an Alford plea to the charge
of Misapplication of Property, a misdemeanor. By entering the Alford plea, Ms. Jacobs has
maintained her innocence.
Ms. Jacobs was accused of wrongdoing for receiving compensation for extra work that she
performed beyond her role as the Walworth Town Supervisor after the Walworth Town
Comptroller abruptly resigned from her office during the fall of 2021. To ensure that the Town
continued to operate properly, Ms. Jacobs and other town employees worked extra time to fulfill
the comptroller-related duties, until the vacancy was ultimately filled. They were each
compensated the same hourly rate appropriated for that office.
After Ms. Jacobs left office that winter, her successor referred the matter to the New York State
Comptroller—the State’s primary body for overseeing and investigating municipal finance related
matters. Following an investigation, the New York State Comptroller concluded that no criminal
referral was appropriate.
Despite this, Ms. Jacobs’ successor next referred the matter to local law enforcement. Following
lengthy discussions, local authorities threatened to present the case to a grand jury, based upon
novel theories of criminal liability.
Confronted with this possibility of an indictment that would have to be challenged through
protracted legal proceedings, Ms. Jacobs ultimately determined that it was best put an end to this-
–for the good of her family and the good of the local community.
With her Alford plea, Ms. Jacobs is returning to Walworth the compensation she received for the
extra work no one disputes she performed. She wishes the best for the future of the Town and
community that she served faithfully during the course of her otherwise unblemished career in
public office.
David M. Fulvio, Esq.
Barclay Damon LLP
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