Ex-municipal court clerk pleads guilty to embezzling

ST. LOUIS -- The former municipal court clerk for the eastern Missouri town Troy pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling money from the court, then trying to set fire to the records, U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway said.

Carol Gibson, 41, of Troy, was indicted in August on one count of embezzlement and one count of attempted arson.

Gibson handled money for traffic and criminal fines. She took more than $15,000 for personal use, according to court records.

On Aug. 29, 2004, she attempted to destroy court records by setting a fire in the basement of the building that houses Troy City Hall and the Police Department.

Authorities said the fire was set a day before state auditors were to review the records.

Sentencing will be Jan. 20.

"Ms. Gibson is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, and possibly even longer," Hanaway said. "Not only is she going to prison, she has to pay back the stolen money."