County treasurer, facing a felony charge, is relieved of her duties

The Madison County treasurer, now facing criminal charges of theft, fraud and felony misconduct in office, was formally relieved of her duties Wednesday afternoon.

The Madison County Board of Supervisors met in special session and unanimously approved a resolution appointing First Deputy County Treasurer Kaylee Barber as the acting county treasurer until County Treasurer Amanda DeVos’ status is resolved. The board also approved a separate resolution that withdrew DeVos’ access to Madison County’s bank accounts.

Prior to the two votes, six residents addressed the board, questioning County Auditor Teri Kaczinski’s competence and criticizing the county for a perceived lack of transparency in handling public business.

DeVos, 37, is a Republican who has served as the county treasurer since January 2023. She is facing charges of felonious misconduct on office, tampering with records, third-degree fraudulent practices and third-degree theft. She has yet to enter a plea in the case.

According to the county sheriff’s office, deputies received an anonymous report last November that DeVos had obtained her vehicle registration without paying the required fees and that she then altered county records so it would appear she had paid the fee.

On Jan. 30, after learning that the Auditor of State’s office was also looking into the matter but wouldn’t being completing its work for several more weeks, sheriff’s office personnel met with DeVos. She allegedly admitted creating false government records to show she had paid her vehicle registration fees. An employee of the treasurer’s office then provided the sheriff’s office with the relevant records, according to the sheriff’s office.

Prior to the criminal charges being filed, DeVos’ office was the subject of several complaints alleging citizens’ payments to the county weren’t being processed in a timely manner and that payments from the treasurer to various taxing entities in Madison County, such as the Winterset public schools, were not being distributed in a timely manner.

Earlier this year, KCCI and WHO reported that city officials in Winterset and Patterson had complained the treasurer’s office misallocated $250,000 by mistakenly routing the money to Winterset rather than Patterson.

After her arrest, DeVos filed with the court a sworn financial affidavit and application seeking a court-appointed attorney. In her affidavit, she reported she was employed by the county, but did not report any income or assets. District Court Judge Charles C. Sinnard subsequently denied the request, citing the lack of financial information provided by DeVos.

DeVos and her privately retained attorney, Timothy McCarthy II, declined to comment on the case Wednesday.

In 2023, DeVos was sued by First National Bank of Omaha for failing to pay $7,569 in credit card bills. The case was later dismissed.