Hash, former officer, is charged with embezzling

Franklin Garnett Hash, a former Sparta Police Department officer, has been charged with 10 counts of felony embezzlement, according to warrants filed by Det. Ricky Lyall of the Alleghany County Sheriff's Department.

Hash, 39, is charged with embezzling tools and currency from his former employer, Ricky Lynn Hamm, who owns Hamm Tool Company. According to the warrants, Hash embezzled a total of $8,330.57 from Hamm's business, as well as pry bars valued at $250.

The alleged acts occurred between Sept. 29, 2000 and Oct. 11, 2002, but the warrants were not issued until April 2, 2003. The warrants were served Monday.

Specifically, Hash is charged with taking $330 on Jan. 18, 2002; pry bars valued at $250 on Sept. 23, 2002; $175 on Aug. 8, 2002; $1,250 on Dec. 18, 2001; $2,500 on March 12, 2002; $2,750 on Oct. 1, 2002; $136.69 on Oct. 11, 2002; $100 on Oct. 3, 2002; $40.50 on Oct. 10, 2002; and $1048.38 on Sept. 29, 2000.

Hash was released under a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to have a first appearance in court on April 15.

Hash was indicted last month for firing a pistol at Hamm (assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill) and for firing a weapon in an occupied property. He is scheduled to appear in Alleghany County Superior Court on April 28 to face those charges.

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