Former Scott County employee charged with stealing money from court's cash bonds

BENTON, Mo. -- A former Scott County Circuit Court office employee faces felony theft charges after allegedly stealing money from cash bonds the court received in 2008.

Stacy Forck, 29, of Benton was charged in January with theft exceeding $500 but less than $25,000, a class C felony.

Pam Glastetter, Scott County Circuit Clerk, reported about $2,688.50 was discovered missing from the office Jan. 8.

Checking her records, Glastetter found several cash bonds were missing, all of the shortages occurring under Forck's user name in the computer system, according to a probable-cause statement by S.E. Rawson of the Scott County Sheriff's Department.

Forck's job included entering each bond into the appropriate person's file.

During an interview with police Jan. 8, Forck admitted to taking the money from the cash bonds and one payment that was received in the office, the statement said.

Forck no longer works for the circuit court office, Glastetter said Tuesday.

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.

A warrant was issued by Bollinger County Associate Circuit Judge Scott Thomsen, who was assigned to the case, with bond set at $5,000, but the warrant was withdrawn Feb. 6, two days later.

A summons was mailed to Forck instead, docket entries indicate, and arraignment is set for Feb. 23.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635