Former ATCO Probate Judge indicted on 83 charges of racketeering, theft by taking

Former Atkinson County Probate Judge Margie O’Brien has been indicted on 83 charges of racketeering and theft by taking for allegedly stealing money from the Atkinson County Probate Court between 2010 and 2017. The total amount of the alleged thefts is a staggering $432,711.

The Atkinson County Grand Jury handed down the indictment, which is over 50 pages long, earlier this week. The Atkinson County Citizen reported the story on April 5. DouglasNow.com also obtained a copy of the indictment earlier this week.

O’Brien is accused of handling the deposits for the Probate Court herself. She allegedly wrote all of the deposits slips personally and would keep money from each one for herself. She attempted to hide the alleged thefts by depositing checks and money orders that hadn’t been entered into the Probate Court’s computer system. The indictment states that during that seven-year period, the Probate Court generated $540,831; however, only $108,120 was deposited.

O’Brien resigned from her office just over a year ago. The Atkinson County Citizen reported that she will be arraigned on May 1. After that, officials will set a court date.