Former Scott County court clerk sentenced for stealing from circuit court

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A former Scott County employee accused of stealing was sentenced Tuesday.

Stacy Forck, who was charged with stealing $2,688.50 from the Scott County Circuit Court on Nov. 12, was granted suspended imposition of sentence during her appearance Tuesday before Judge Fred Copeland. Forck was placed on two years' unsupervised probation with the condition she make full restitution.

The case was heard in New Madrid County after Scott County Associate Circuit Court Judge Scott Horman recused himself from the case, as did the Scott County prosecuting attorney's office, because Forck worked for a court office. New Madrid County Prosecuting Attorney Lewis Recker was assigned as special prosecutor to the case.

The loss was discovered by Scott County Circuit Clerk Pam Glastetter in 2008. According to the probable-cause statement, all of the shortages occurred under Forck's user name in the computer system. Forck's job included entering each bond into the appropriate person's file.