Calcasieu Parish tax assessor indicted on charges of malfeasance in office

Posted: Oct 21, 2010 5:11 PM by AP
Updated: Oct 21, 2010 5:12 PM

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) - A grand jury has indicted the Calcasieu Parish tax assessor on charges of malfeasance in office.

Richard Cole was charged Thursday with two counts of malfeasance in office. An arrest warrant was issued for him and bond was set at $10,000, according to the American Press newspaper in Lake Charles.

The newspaper reports that an auditor's report earlier this month found that Cole had used his office credit card to charge more than $48,000 in personal expenses over a three-year period.

Cole did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Thursday.

Topics: Calcasieu Parish, tax assessor, malfeasance