State Auditor Stacy Pickering says a former Jones County deputy chancery clerk has been indicted on embezzlement charges.

Pickering, during a news conference in Laurel, said Natalie Brooke Ward was indicted Tuesday by a Jones County grand jury on charges of embezzlement by a public employee and alteration of record.

Ward is accused of diverting funds for personal use. Pickering has issued a demand of $218,024 for funds missing from the county’s Land Redemption Account. Pickering also demanded thousands of dollars in interest and investigative costs.

Pickering said the alleged crimes occurred between November 2004 and January 2008. Ward resigned as deputy chancery clerk this past February. A spokeswoman for Pickering said she didn’t know if Ward had hired an attorney.