A former commissioner in Moniteau County has been charged with felony counts of theft and forgery.

According to an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 57-year-old Douglas Naros is accused of using county funds to purchase parts for a vehicle that he owned, then directing a county employee to install the parts in the county’s road and bridge shop last month. In their probable cause statement, patrol investigators say Naros submitted the $227.52 invoice to the county clerk’s office with a note claiming that the purchase was for a county vehicle. As the investigation continued, troopers say that Naros also purchased a steel fuel tank last month with county funds, which Naros reportedly admitted to having at his home. Charging documents also accuse Naros of having a charger, hydraulic cylinder, relief valve, and fuel at his home that were all county property. Naros is also accused of using a county dump truck hauling rock from a quarry to spread on his driveway last year, and directing an on-duty road and bridge employee to trim trees along his driveway with county equipment.

A warrant was issued Friday, Feb. 13 for Naros’ arrest, with a condition that Naros be released on his own recognizance provided he has no contact with any Moniteau County employee or elected official. Naros submitted his resignation from office Tuesday as the investigation was unfolding. He had been elected to the District One Associate Commissioner position in 2024, defeating incumbent Clint Hoellering in the Republican primary by five votes (938-933) that August, and had no opponent in the November general election. Because Naros was until recently an elected official, a special prosecutor has been appointed from Morgan County, while a judge outside of Moniteau County will need to be assigned to the case.