Michelle Higgins, the wife of Barton County Sheriff Shannon Higgins, is charged in Barton County court with one felony count of identity theft.

According to court documents, last Ooctober Barton County Sheriff Shannon Higgins asked the Missouri State Highway Patrol to investigate allegations of identity theft against his own wife, Michelle.

Court documents allege Michelle Higgins used her mother-in-law's social security number to open a credit card account three years ago.

Authorities say the sheriff's wife charged just over $14,000 on that account and it was turned over to a collection agency.

Court documents allege Michelle Higgins filled out a credit card application for the Golden City Community Center.

Documents also indicate that Michelle Higgins told the Missouri Highway Patrol she misread the application, and thought it was for the Golden City Day Care, which she owned at the time.

Investigators say Michelle's mother-in-law never gave Michelle permission to obtain a credit card in her name.

Neither Sheriff Higgins nor his wife, Michelle, would comment to us about the charge and referred us to their attorney, Shane Cantin.

Cantin said they dispute everything in the charge and plan on fighting this to the end.