Clemmons Pleads Guilty to Theft, Forgery Charges Against Tourism, Receives Probation

Rhonda Clemmons, (56), Brownsville.

Darren Doyle, story:
Rhonda Clemmons, (56), former Edmonson County Tourism Director, Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce Director, and Edmonson County Planning Commission Secretary, has taken a plea deal where she is avoiding jail time as of now with a pretrial diversion. She was accused of taking more than $30K from Edmonson County Tourism.

In April of 2021, Clemmons was indicted on more than 50 counts of forgery and/or theft. She faced 52 counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument and one count of Theft by Unlawful Taking over $10,000.

Those 2021 indictment documents stated, "Rhonda J. Clemmons, committed the offense of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree when, with knowledge that it was forged and intent to defraud, deceive or injure another, she uttered or possessed a forged check on the account of the Edmonson County Tourist & Convention Commission."

The original indictment further stated, "Rhonda J. Clemmons, committed the offense of Theft by Unlawful Taking over $10,000.00, when she stole approximately $30,407.77 from the Edmonson County Tourist & Convention Commission."

Each charge states that the acts were committed on or between January 14, 2019 through May 21, 2020.

Clemmons eluded law enforcement for 10 months after the indictment and was eventually found and arrested in North Carolina in February of 2022.

In an April 1, 2025 agreement, Clemmons pleaded guilty to Theft by unlawful taking, $1,000 - $10,000 and Forgery second degree, both Class D Felonies. She was sentenced to 5 years for each count, with pretrial diversion for that time period, avoiding jail time as long as the terms and conditions of the court are met during that time with monthly supervision from Probation and Parole. The charges will be dismissed after successfully completing the 5 year period and obeying all rules and regulations imposed by Probation and Parole.

Without the agreement, she faced as much as 20 years in prison or more.

Clemmons was also ordered to have no contact with Edmonson County Tourism, as well as two individually named Tourism Commissioners.

The court also ordered "restitution reserved." This is a situation where the court delays determination of the amount of restitution, typically after further investigation. Oft times the exact amount owed is not yet finalized at the time of sentencing or diversion agreement, which is possible in this case.

Clemmons was not accused of any wrongdoing while serving as Director of the Chamber, nor as Secretary of the Planning Commission, but she was terminated from both positions separately in the wake of her initial indictment.

According to current Director of Edmonson County Tourism Vanessa Ulm, the $30,407.77 Clemmons was accused of stealing remains missing.