OKLAHOMA CITY (AP and ACNI) - State authorities are being asked to investigate ex-Commissioner Brent Rinehart's office after county officials found an undeposited check for more than $70,000 in the desk of a former employee.

The Oklahoman reported Thursday that Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater sent a letter to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the State Auditor's office asking for a probe. Prater also wants investigators to look into the disappearance of a computer and two monitors valued at about $2,400.

The check for $71,185 was from auctioneer Mike Graham of Marlow, Okla., for the proceeds of a District 2 surplus property auction in 2007. It apparently was never deposited and sat for nearly two years in the desk of Jim Marshall, Rinehart's former deputy. At this point there is no allegation of impropriety on the part of either the employee or the auction company, which has an excellent reputation.

According to Mike Graham Auctioneers' Web site, owner Mike Graham has been in the auction business for more than 22 years, working for prestigious companies throughout the nation. He has managed auctions with values ranging from $50,000 to more than $10 million. In his four years of working with the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma, Graham has sold more than 3,000 pieces of equipment, grossing more than $20 million.

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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com. Auction Central News International also contributed to this report.

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AP-WS-02-05-09 1338EST