Ex-manager of Siler City license plate office pleads guilty

The former manager of a license plate agency in Siler City has pleaded guilty to allowing people without driver's licenses to gain titles to vehicles, authorities said Wednesday.

Margaret Tarkenton pleaded guilty on Sept. 13 to four misdemeanor registration violations and was placed on probation for a year. She also must perform 120 hours of community service and pay about $200 in restitution to the state Division of Motor Vehicles.

Following an investigation, the DMV in February shut down the license plate office that Tarkenton had operated for 20 years at 1205 N. 2nd Ave. in Siler City under a state contract.

Chatham County District Attorney Jim Woodall said that Tarkenton was checking boxes on vehicle title paperwork to certify that people had valid driver's licenses when they had no license or an expired license. There was little financial gain in the scheme, Woodall said, noting she likely skirted the rules to attract business to her office.