Correctional officer under investigation for alleged time card fraud

A correctional officer has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of suspicious time card activity, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.

Joshua Alan Collins, 31, was placed on leave awaiting completion of an internal affairs investigation. The Merced County District Attorney’s Office has filed criminal charges against Collins, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Prosecutors on Aug. 14 charged Collins with a misdemeanor count of making false financial statements, according to Merced Superior Court records.

Authorities first became aware of suspicious time card activity after supervisors suspected Collins was claiming overtime on his time cards without actually working the hours, officials said in a news release.

Sheriff’s detectives began investigating the allegations and determined that Collins had been paid overtime for hours he did not work.

Collins is a Merced resident and has been employed by the Merced County Sheriff’s Office since 2008.

This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 4:08 PM with the headline "Correctional officer under investigation for alleged time card fraud."