Former tax commissioner convicted of theft

DARIEN - Former McIntosh County Tax Commissioner Shelia Atkinson was found guilty Thursday of felony theft and malfeasance in office, a misdemeanor. <br> <br> District Attorney Tom Durden presented evidence that Atkinson had cashed thousands of dollars worth of her personal checks in the tax commissioner&#39;s office between June 1, 1989, and May 1990 but never ran the checks through the bank for withdrawal from her checking account. <br> <br> He also presented evidence that Atkinson had paid herself an illegal commission of $974 from the office in December 1998. <br> <br> The maximum penalty for the two felony charges is 30 years in prison. Superior Court Judge David L. Calendar delayed sentencing. <br> <br> In 1999, a jury found Atkinson guilty of malpractice in office. She received probation and was automatically removed from office. <br> <br> Defense attorney Newell M. Hamilton Jr. noted that the checks were written long ago. ``Mrs. Atkinson was given notice about 10 years later that she was going to have to defend herself on these allegations,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> Hamilton said Atkinson had been convicted once, and now the state was trying to punish her some more. <br> <br> ``Apparently a pound of flesh wasn&#39;t enough,&#39;&#39; he said.