Perryville woman may stand trial on felony stealing charges

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A felony stealing case could be set for trial soon after a Perry County judge ruled Tuesday that there was enough evidence against a Perryville woman to proceed with the case.

Associate Circuit Court Judge Michael Bullerdieck bound the case over to division two of the court, and Leslie M. French, charged with 32 counts of felony stealing, will appear before a new judge May 6.

French, also charged with one misdemeanor count of stealing, is accused of embezzling around $25,000 from company payroll accounts at Bening Ford in Perryville. French allegedly issued herself 30 checks, averaging $610 each, after displaying them as voided in Bening Ford's payroll system, according to court documents.

Authorities also allege that French made three wire transfers to the IRS to pay her taxes with stolen funds from the company. An affidavit says in August she allegedly transferred $1,875 to her own account and then made a transfer to the IRS. In October, a transfer of $2,050 was made and in November, $2,800 was paid to the IRS.

French was charged in January. The company's general manager, Chad Strattman, confronted French after discovering the fraud and fired the woman after she admitted to the crime, according to an affidavit filed with the court.

French posted a $25,000 cash-only bond shortly after her January arrest.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

909 S. Perryville Blvd., Perryville, MO

15 W. Ste. Maries St., Perryville, MO