NATCHEZ &8212; Many Natchez residents Friday said they were surprised at Circuit Clerk M.L. &8220;Binkey&8221; Vines&8217; indictment on 13 counts of embezzlement.

While some would not comment, others said they knew Vines.

&8220;It&8217;s hard to believe,&8221; said Edward Williams, who works in landscaping. &8220;I don&8217;t believe it&8217;s true that he embezzled money. He&8217;s a nice man. I go to the Pentecostal church, and he&8217;s visited before.

&8220;I don&8217;t know what to say.&8221;

Angie Isaac, who works in hospitality, said she did not think Vines would do something like that.

&8220;I find it hard to believe. I don&8217;t view him like that,&8221; Isaac said.

Vines pleaded not guilty Friday in Adams County Circuit Court. An indictment does not mean he has to step down from his position. He was working Friday morning.

Others viewed his actions with a more critical eye.

&8220;It&8217;s hard to tell about people,&8221; said Charles Davis, also a landscaper. &8220;You never can tell around here.&8221;

The Mississippi State Auditor&8217;s Office joined the Mississippi Attorney General&8217;s Office in arresting Vines Thursday.

An audit from 2003 found numerous problems with Vines&8217; office, including understated fees and a lack of documentation.

Vines made many friends over the years. Dywon Lewis, a minister at Murray Temple Church of God in Christ, said he thought Vines was innocent.

&8220;I know Binkey personally,&8221; Lewis said. &8220;I know when you&8217;re in a position like Binkey&8217;s in and the things he&8217;s doing in the community, some people tend to be jealous because he&8217;s not doing what they want him to do.&8221;

Lewis said Vines&8217; Saturday morning radio shows have helped people, and Vines went to hospitals with Lewis to pray for people.

&8220;I have seen him in action. A person that helps people, why would he hurt himself?,&8221; Lewis said.

&8220;If he did it, then he&8217;s got to answer for it. If he didn&8217;t do it, the people who accused him have to answer for it. And I don&8217;t think he did it.&8221;

The Rev. Victor Stewart at Parkview Church of God said Vines was a friend and that he had Stewart&8217;s support and prayers.

&8220;He is a hero to our hurting families in our community,&8221; Stewart said. &8220;Binkey has a large heart.&8221;

Adams County Supervisor S.E. &8220;Spanky&8221; Felter said he had no comment on Vines&8217; charges. Felter did say he thought every department in Natchez and Adams County that dealt with money should be audited twice a year. Adams County is currently audited once a year.

&8220;From the hospital to the garbage,&8221; Felter said. &8220;If they know they&8217;re going to be audited twice a year, they might change it.&8221;