Chief county clerk Amy Wilson is being investigated for allegedly getting paid for hours not worked during four years when she had a different position.

The investigation by the Butler County District Attorney’s Office is under way because of a complaint filed by county Commissioner Jim Eckstein.

Using information obtained by Eckstein supporter Larry Swartzwelder in open records requests, Eckstein last month sent documentation to the state attorney general’s office about Wilson’s compensatory time taken as administrative assistant to Commissioner Dale Pinkerton.

Eckstein alleges Wilson continued to be working with negative compensatory time — taking time off without having earned those extra hours.

“She did it for nine months,” he said in an interview. “She added to it. It’s fraud.”

Eckstein sent the complaint to the state, citing a potential conflict of interest for District Attorney Richard Goldinger’s office to investigate the matter.

However, the state attorney general’s office sent it to Goldinger.

“I’ve assigned it to a detective,” Goldinger said. “We’ll go from there.”

Wilson declined to comment on the accusations, citing the investigation.

Eckstein claims Wilson claimed negative compensation time without written authorizations and conflicting time sheet records.

Pinkerton said the allegations are without merit.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said. “If anyone has been abusing comp time, it hasn’t been Amy.”

Pinkerton cited previous concerns with the compensatory time taken by Eckstein’s administrative assistant Margaret Abersold.

Following public complaints by two Eckstein critics about Abersold’s schedule, in 2012 she filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Abersold alleged McCarrier, Pinkerton and three county administration employees did not protect her rights during two public meetings that year.

The EEOC in December 2012 determined there was insufficient evidence of discrimination.

Eckstein stressed the allegations against Wilson are a serious issue considering a Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center worker was almost fired for doing the same thing.

“It’s not ridiculous” he said.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier said the complaint covers a period when he was not in office, so he couldn’t comment on it.

The county in 2013 updated its overtime policy, which covers compensatory time.

Eckstein said the county has no policy on negative compensation time, so it should never occur.

He also challenged Wilson being paid by the county while attending Leadership Butler County classes.

As a practice, the county pays an employee each year to participate in the community leadership enhancement program.

Eckstein denied the complaint is political retaliation, but admitted the idea came from people complaining about Abersold’s compensatory time.

Pinkerton said Eckstein’s complaint against Wilson is not necessarily political retaliation.

“I think he tries to create turmoil,” Pinkerton said. “His primary objective is to create turmoil.”