Former Carter County collector pleads to lesser theft charge

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Former Carter County collector Jennifer Clark-Williams pleaded guilty Monday morning to a lesser stealing charge and agreed to reimburse the county for the expenses it incurred during the investigation, as well as paying back the money she stole.

Clark-Williams pleaded guilty to misdemeanor stealing before Presiding Circuit Judge David Evans, said Steve Sokoloff, who was appointed special prosecuting attorney for the case.

The amended information filed with the court alleged that on Oct. 2, 2012, Clark-Williams stole money owned by the county.

As part of plea negotiations, Sokoloff said, he agreed to reduce Clark-Williams' original felony charge of stealing to the misdemeanor if she would "pay all of the restitution at once prior to sentencing."

Clark-Williams is to pay "all the money we were able to track, plus the cost of the state audit and her successor, [her] time for research" of the missing funds. Sokoloff said his decision was made in consultation with Carter County commissioners.

According to earlier reports, a 2009 audit by Missouri Auditor Susan Montee's office found "all money paid by taxpayers could not be accounted for."

An audit completed by Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich's office found $3,817 was missing from the Carter County Collector's 2011 account.

Clark-Williams and a part-time worker reportedly were the only employees of the office.

"She wasn't sure exactly how much she had actually 'borrowed' or taken from the account because she didn't keep good records of the amount she had taken," according to the probable-cause statement filed with the court. "Clark-Williams said the first time she took money was approximately December 2010. She borrowed money to pay for her personal electric bill."

A later, more-thorough audit by Schweich's office identified more than $5,100 missing.

Clark-Williams will be sentenced at 9 a.m. Feb. 9.

Pertinent address:

Van Buren, Mo.