Pratt ? Pratt County commissioners have ordered an investigation of court records from the past three years after the county’s chief prosecutor was accused of misusing public funds.

Pratt County Atty. Thomas V. Black faces six felony charges and a possible ouster.

Pratt County commissioners on Monday announced that they had ordered an audit of court records from the past three years to determine how much the county might have lost. Once the audit is finished, commissioners will review the report to determine if any additional action should be taken.

At issue is the county’s traffic diversion program, initiated by Black. Diversion programs typically require offenders to agree to certain penalties, including fines. Charges are dropped in exchange.

Funds received through Pratt County’s traffic diversion program were targeted to help train law enforcement officers and buy equipment for them, Pratt County Treasurer Donna Shelite said.

“The county attorney set the diversion amount and collected the funds,” Shelite said. “In the process the money was deposited through the Treasurer’s Office.”

After an internal investigation, the Pratt County Commission asked the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Attorney General’s Office to look into the matter.

Atty. Gen. Phill Kline filed criminal charges and a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to remove Black. Both the complaint and ouster petition said on six occasions between May 22 and Sept. 10, Black illegally used money orders made payable to the Pratt County attorney.