Ex-court clerk charged with stealing bonds

JONESBORO, Ill. -- A former Union County circuit court clerk was charged with stealing more than $16,000 in bond money this week.

Michelle Sadler, 33, was indicted by a Union County grand jury Wednesday with 44 counts of felony forgery, 11 counts felony theft and five counts of misdemeanor theft under $300.

Sadler turned herself in to the Union County Sheriff's Department on Thursday, said Union County State's Attorney Allen W. James. She posted 10 percent of the ordered $100,000 bond Thursday.

The indictments arose from events that took place in 2005 and 2006 at the Union County circuit clerk's office, James said.

Sadler allegedly forged bond receipts and bond check-out sheets to disguise the theft of bond money from the clerk's office, James said. During that period more than $16,000 of bond money was reported missing, discovered when some defendants' money was not available for processing upon completion of their cases, he said.

Sadler worked for the clerk's office for more than 10 years, leaving in April 2006, James said.

All of the money was replaced by the Union County Board from its general fund account during the course of the investigation to allow the clerk's office and court system to continue operating.

James said the case was investigated by the Illinois State Police with the assistance of the Illinois attorney general's office.

The Union County state's attorney's office and the Union County Sheriff's Department did not participate in the investigation, he said, because the case could have involved employees of the Tri-County Detention Center, and the circuit clerk's and sheriff's offices.

Sadler is scheduled to appear in Union County court at 9 a.m. April 24.

carel@semissourian.com

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