Ex-county administrator receives demand

PANOLA COUNTY — State Auditor Stacy Pickering has issued a demand of $292,772 from a former Panola County administrator accused of scamming the state out of retirement and overtime benefits.

Pickering accuses Michael David Chandler, who lives in Grenada, of falsifying records to receive overtime benefits for which he wasn’t eligible.

Pickering says Chandler retired from his job as country administrator in June 2007 and returned to the position the next day as a contractor, earning the same salary of about $80,000. Pickering says Chandler continued to draw benefits from the Public Employees Retirement System in violation of state law.

Chandler’s attorney, Hiram Eastland III, says his client is working with the auditor’s office to resolve the situation.