12News has uncovered new details about allegations that led to the firing of a Port Arthur city employee.
We've learned that 43-year-old Sharon Shelvin had a criminal history.
Shelvin had been working for Port Arthur's municipal court for about 18 months before the city manager fired her last week.
The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office is likely to issue a warrant for her arrest next week.
According to Harris County court records, in 2003, Shelvin was arrested for forgery of a financial instrument. In layman's terms, that means a check, money order or other financial item was duplicated or altered.
At the time, Shelvin was going by her maiden name Morgan.
Records show Sharon Morgan (Shelvin) pleaded guilty an was sentenced to four years probation.
But it appears that in 2005, something happened that led to Shelvin being sentenced to six months in jail for the same charge.
We don't know if the city of Port Arthur was aware of Shelvin's criminal record when she was hired because no city official is commenting. They claim it's a personnel matter and under criminal investigation.
But supporters of a forensic audit say one reason they want to have one is to look at what they consider to be the city's questionable hiring practices.
We have tried to reach out to Shelvin, going by her home this week, but no one answered. We also sent her a message through Facebook, but have not gotten back a response.
Sources have told us more details about the crime of which she's accused. They tell us she allegedly would skim money off the court fines people would go pay at municipal court.
We're told people would pay the full amount, and she's accused of pocketing part of it, deducting that amount from the fine, and altering the court document showing the person actually owed less.
Jefferson County assistant district attorney Cory Crenshaw told us that once an arrest warrant is issued, the case against Shelvin will be presented to a grand jury.
Crenshaw said Shelvin faces felony theft charges, and a more serious charge of tampering with a government document. For the tampering charged, if found guilty, Shelvin could get up to 20 years in prison.
