Cape woman pleads guilty to stealing county funds

A woman accused of helping steal money from the Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney's bad check fund pleaded guilty Wednesday to a single count of stealing.

Denise K. Johnson of Cape Girardeau entered the plea before Circuit Judge Fred Copeland in New Madrid, Mo. In exchange for the plea, four other counts against Johnson were dropped. Sentencing was set for April 25.

Investigators uncovered the scheme in July, when restitution clerk Monica Krauss of Cape Girardeau was charged with draining more than $6,000 from a fund set up to pay restitution to crime victims.

Krauss will make a court appearance Jan. 9 in Jefferson County, where her case was moved on a change of venue.

Krauss is charged with writing checks to Johnson, Monique Evans and Ursie Black, a 90-year-old woman, who investigators believe was an unwitting participant in the scheme. Krauss allegedly split the money with Johnson and Evans.

Evans pleaded guilty Nov. 22. She will be sentenced in February.

Prosecutor Morley Swingle could not be reached for comment Thursday.