Craft pleads to stealing

A former Jackson insurance agent received two years probation after pleading guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor for stealing from her clients.

The case against Lisa D. Craft, 35, began in August with nine felonies, but after careful examination, parts of the investigation didn't hold up, said assistant prosecuting attorney Ian Sutherland.

Instead of preceding with a scheduled preliminary hearing, Craft pleaded guilty in the courtroom of Judge Michael Bullerdieck. The plea agreement reduced her original three felony counts of stealing and six felony counts of forgery to the single misdemeanor.

"She's pleading guilty to put it behind her," said defense attorney Al Lowes during the hearing. Craft stood at Lowes' side, answering Bullerdieck's questions about her guilty plea in a shaky voice with quick, one-word answers.

Bullerdieck suspended imposing a sentence while Craft serves probation. She was ordered to assist a court staff member in determining the exact amount of her restitution, which she must pay off within one year.

Investigators said Craft stole approximately $20,000 in premium payments from her customers and forged policy documents to cover up the theft. However, assistant prosecuting attorney Ian Sutherland said the restitution may not be as high as first thought.

"We've got to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to 12 jurors that she did something criminal," Sutherland said. "It just got to a point where I thought it was damn near impossible to do that. ... Most of this stuff was too easily explained."

Charges 'blew up'

Sutherland said one of the forgery charges "blew up" when he learned that a witness who investigators thought had paid Craft had actually sent in payments to the insurance agency, which misplaced them and canceled the policy by mistake.

'Good deal' for state

Though, Sutherland remained convinced some of the charges against Craft were true, he thought the best resolution was a reduced charge.

"I don't have a doubt in my mind she was robbing Peter to pay Paul, but trying to prove that to 12 jurors is something else," he said. "Yes, this was a good deal for the state."

Lowes asked Bullerdieck whether Craft is allowed to travel while on probation, because she now works at a travel agency and may be required to visit foreign countries for work-related reasons. The judge said any travel plans would have to be worked out with Craft's probation officer in advance.

Lowes believes his client was "in over her head" at the insurance office with clerical confusion, but said she was not a thief.

"I don't think the poor woman owes an apology to anybody," Lowes said. "She was just confused. Frankly, I don't think she stole a damn dime. But don't you think that if you can get nine felony charges reduced to a misdemeanor with probation you should take it?"

The investigation into Craft was conducted by the Jackson Police Department and various state agencies. Police received complaints from customers, who said she kept money intended for insurance premiums and falsified their insurance documents.

She had worked as an insurance agent for Dewitt Insurance in Jackson until Sept. 28, 2001, said Randy McConnell, a spokesman for the Missouri Department of Insurance. She resigned when the Missouri Department of Insurance notified her she would lose her license because its investigation revealed fraudulent acts.

Other investigations were conducted by the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Division of Worker's Compensation, Missouri Employers and Safeco Corporate Security Office.

mwells@semissourian.com

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