Turmoil has enveloped the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, with two top-ranking deputies fired from their posts as state police investigate an accusation that Sheriff Ewell Hunt ordered one of the men to approve time sheets for his daughter for hours she may not have worked.

Hunt said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon that the allegations against his daughter, Ashley, are not true. Ashley Hunt was properly paid for work she did for the department, he said. No charges have been filed.

He also said the firings had no connection to the state police probe and called it disappointing that "some employees who have been removed for cause unrelated to this investigation have chosen to make these unfounded investigations public."

A search warrant filed last month in Mercer County, W.Va., confirms that two Virginia State Police investigators traveled to Concord University and seized 18-year-old Ashley Hunt's personal laptop computer and a pair of flash drives after searching her dorm room and her sport utility vehicle. According to the warrant, she worked for the sheriff's office as an administrative assistant.

According to the document, Maj. Josh Carter, the sheriff's former second in command, told investigators that the sheriff presented him with time sheets for his daughter. When Carter asked his boss what the time sheets were for, "Sheriff Hunt told Chief Carter to not ask any questions and just sign the time sheets," the warrant states.

The document states that investigators are trying to determine whether any evidence exists to support a charge of obtaining money by false pretenses.

Meanwhile, Carter and former Lt. Allan Arrington both confirmed Tuesday that they were fired from the sheriff's office on Monday.

Because the firings are a personnel matter, Ewell Hunt said he could not comment Tuesday.

In the meantime, Hunt has reorganized the department. Effective May 1, Capt. Billy Wayne Stockton was promoted to chief deputy.

Stockton, who has been with the department for 28 years, is now second in command. More personnel changes are possible, Hunt said, depending on the department's needs.

Carter said he has retained two attorneys and intends to get back his job. Neither he nor Arrington would comment further.

Franklin County Commonwealth's Attorney Cliff Hapgood declined to comment on the investigation.

According to the warrant, Virginia State Police special agents Lee Willis and Kevin Harth sought a search warrant April 9 for Ashley Hunt's computer, which she supposedly had used to keep time sheets, department records and administrative e-mails.

According to the warrant, Willis told a West Virginia state trooper that Ashley Hunt had claimed hours on the job at the sheriff's office "that he did not believe it was possible for her to have actually worked."

Ashley Hunt handled inventory and supplies and also sometimes did surveillance for drug buys, the search warrant states.

Ewell Hunt expressed confidence Tuesday that the state police probe will find no wrongdoing. Once the investigation is done, "I am looking forward to a speedy and complete airing of all claims," he said.

A 2008 North Cross School graduate, Ashley Hunt is a dean's list student at Concord University. Her father said Tuesday she was an employee of the sheriff's office before his election.

Ewell Hunt was elected in 2007, replacing Quint Overton, who served as sheriff for 32 years. Hunt narrowly defeated Overton's son, Bill.

Since the election, Hunt has restructured the department and helped open the Western Virginia Regional Jail.

News researcher Belinda Harris contributed to this story.