NATCHEZ — Just before noon Thursday, former Natchez Alderman Theodore “Bubber” West was booked into the Adams County jail on a warrant issued from the Mississippi Attorney General and charged with three counts of felony conversion.

Conversion is a form of theft that occurs when one party is given an asset to be held, then converts that asset for personal use.

West turned himself in and was released on his own recognizance.

Attorney General Jim Hood said the warrant was issued after his office and the office of the Secretary of State investigated the handling of pre-need funeral funds at West Funeral Home, of which West is the owner.

“The defendant is charged with taking money from Mississippi customers for pre-arranged funeral plans and failing to put the money in a proper trust as required by state law,” Hood said.

Pre-need funds are paid to a funeral home before death to guarantee money will be available when it’s needed.

State law mandates that at least 85 percent of an individual’s fund be kept in a trust.

According to a statement from Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann’s office, West’s funeral home is not registered to sell pre-need contracts and the trust is under funded by approximately $95,000.

Hood said it would be up to a grand jury to decide if West would face additional charges.

Hood said he could not comment as the whether or not other funeral home employees would be facing charges.

West, who would not comment on the matter, will be arraigned in Adams County Justice Court Monday.

If convicted, West faces up to 10 years in prison and, or up $1,000 in fines for each count.

In late May, West’s funeral home, cemetery and other parcels of property were foreclosed on by Apex Mortgage.

While bidders for the property have been identified by the mortgage company, bankruptcy issues have slowed the sale of that land.

A hearing to decide the bankruptcy issues has been scheduled for the end of this month.

Members of the West family have also retained legal council in an attempt to restructure and reorganize the funeral home and purchase the property from Apex.

West was also arrested in 2007 on charges of felony false pretense — or writing insufficient fund checks.