Brattleboro judge falsely claimed pay for 352 hours worked, police say
A Windham County side judge has been cited for falsely claiming 352 hours of work for which she was paid over $8,500, state police said.
In July 2022, the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations was notified by members of Windham County Treasurer’s Office and the Vermont Judiciary regarding Assistant Judge Patricia Duff and the hours she reported working. The investigation centered around the number of hours Duff claimed to have worked at court hearings. Based on information provided and additional investigative steps taken, it was determined that between January and June 2022, Duff was paid $8,518.40 under false pretenses by claiming 352 hours worked when she was not working.
On Thursday evening, troopers issued a citation to Duff, 60, of Brattleboro on charges of false pretense and grand larceny. Duff is due to appear for arraignment at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Brattleboro. No additional information is available at this time. The affidavit of probable cause will be filed with the court and made public following Duff’s arraignment.
Duff, a six-term Democrat, resigned last July, pleading multiple bouts with Covid-19. In August police reported she was being investigated for financial irregularities