Liane Richardson, who was fired as Lane County Administrator last year, has been cleared of criminal conduct by the Oregon State Bar. The Bar's conclusions point to knowledge and approval of her actions on the part of two County commissioners.
Richardson, who now goes by Inkster, was fired from her job as Lane County Administrator after it was revealed that she had been converting leave time to take home pay in order to boost her paycheck.
The State Bar undertook an investigation of Inkster after she applied to be on the Bar's ethics board. The Bar found out from a Register Guard report that she may have made false statements to a County investigator or engaged in criminal conduct.
In a letter procured by the Eugene Weekly, Assistant Disciplinary Council Mary Cooper says the Bar cannot prove Inkster was dishonest or that she engaged in criminal conduct. The letter quotes a Lane County investigation saying "it concluded you did not act fraudulently and that the Board Chair and vice Chair knew and approved of the changes in your compensation".
Commissioners Sid Leiken and Jay Bozievich were Board Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, at that time. They did not respond to KLCC's requests for comment.