Dexter, Mo. woman sentenced in theft, forgery case

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter, Mo., woman accused of stealing nearly $500,000 was sentenced to prison Thursday, the Daily Statesman reported. Kathy Ellsworth, 48, pleaded guilty June 21 to forging what is believed to be a total of $485,000 in checks from her employer. Ellsworth appeared in court Wednesday alongside her attorney, George W. Gilmore Jr. She was originally charged with 66 felonies: 34 counts of forgery, 31 counts of stealing and one charge of stealing in excess of $25,000. Ellsworth pleaded guilty to stealing. According to the probable-cause affidavit filed in a Stoddard County courtroom by sheriff's deputy Hank Trout, the money was taken during a period from Dec. 10, 2009, to Nov. 14, 2011. The report states that Ellsworth, employed as a bookkeeper by the victim, allegedly forged the victim's signature on business checks, which were made payable to her husband. She allegedly forged her husband's name on the checks to deposit them into her bank account. The checks ranged from $1,383 to $9,846 each. There is no indication in the filed reports that Ellsworth's husband was aware of the theft.

In accordance with Daily Statesman policy, the victim in the case has not been named in this report.