Ex-employee accused of stealing $2 million from Clark County Auditor’s office

Robert Vanderhorst appears in Clark County Common Pleas Court for arraignment in February. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Robert Vanderhorst appears in Clark County Common Pleas Court for arraignment in February. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

A former Clark County auditor employee fired in January for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from the office was indicted a second time Monday after officials discovered he’d also stolen about $2 million in taxpayers’ money.

Robert Vanderhorst, 63, was previously indicted in February for a third-degree felony charge of theft in office, meaning the value of property or services allegedly stolen was more than $7,500 and less than $150,000.

The Clark County Prosecutor’s Office issued an updated indictment on Monday with two counts of theft and one count of theft in office, according to Clark County Common Pleas court records. Prosecutor Dan Driscoll confirmed the amount that allegedly was taken is “in excess of $1.5 million.”

“Vanderhorst’s actions, going back more than a decade, are shocking and disappointing,” Clark County Auditor John Federer said. “The first dollar stolen is an outrage, and every dollar after that only grows our shared horror at the scope of Vanderhorst’s criminal activity.”

An employee of the Clark County Auditor’s Office since 1991, Vanderhorst was fired on Jan. 12 after the Clark County Auditor’s Office said it learned of the allegations.

Federer said that Vanderhorst’s charge represents a “shocking betrayal of every Clark County citizen” and employees of his office.

According to the auditor’s office, an employee noticed inappropriate vendor payouts in the financial management system in October 2021. State investigators visited the auditor’s office and Vanderhorst’s home last month to collect evidence.

Driscoll said Vanderhorst’s jury trial originally slated for May 17 may be adjusted due to the updated indictment.

Vanderhorst’s attorney did not return a request for comment regarding the updated indictment.

Federer created a website, www.clarkcountyfacts.com, with the help of a communications consulting firm that he said has been paid out of his own pocket to outline details about the alleged theft.

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