Evidence technician arrested for grand theft

Historic City News has learned that a 39 year-old Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested this afternoon and charged with grand theft over $5000 and official misconduct in falsification of records.

Matthew D. Koenig, described as a white male, approximately 5′ 10″ tall, 160 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes, was arrested around 3:00 p.m. at the Flagler County office of State Attorney R. J. Larizza following a three-month investigation into missing funds from the Sheriff’s Office evidence room.

Koenig has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 1998 and was able to access property in the evidence room through his position as an Evidence Technician.

Koenig, who is charged with taking nearly $5,000 cash from envelopes stored in the Evidence Division. The cash was currency seized in criminal cases and was being held until the cases were disposed of in court.

The investigation revealed that cash inside twelve evidence envelopes had been removed and replaced with paper towels. Investigators determined that $4,847 was missing. The deputy was matched to the theft through DNA testing on the envelopes and the paper towels. Investigators also found unexplained deposits into Koenig’s personal account from 2009 to 2010.

Sheriff Fleming said the discovery of the missing cash occurred in late October when another Evidence Technician went to retrieved a case envelope and found the cash was missing.

An internal audit of the evidence commenced and then the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was asked to assist. FDLE conducted an Evidence Audit and a forensic investigation. As a result of the investigation, procedure modifications have been made to the Evidence Division.

“I brought in State Attorney. Larizza’s office and through mutual cooperation, the investigation proceeded for the next three months,” Sheriff Fleming said.

Deputy Koenig was booked into the Flagler County Inmate Facility this afternoon and placed on unpaid administrative leave. Koenig was released from custody after posting a $2,000 appearance bond.