Crawford County collector charged with stealing

STEELVILLE, Mo. -- The Crawford County collector was charged Monday with stealing after officials said more than $25,000 was discovered gone from county coffers.

They said the money has gone missing since Jan. 1, 2003. Daniel Wayne Gladden, 54, of Steelville faces one count of felony stealing.

His bail was set at $250,000. Crawford County's circuit clerk, Karen McPeters, was ordered to forfeit her office after being sentenced in May on five felony and two misdemeanor charges of stealing more than $10,000 from the county.

She was given a suspended sentence of five years on each count, placed on probation and ordered to repay $10,830 to the county.

Phone calls to Gladden for comment went unanswered after business hours.