Probation given in forgery, fraud case involving Scott City woman

A Scott City woman who admitted to stealing more than $1,500 from her employer was sentenced to five years of supervised release for the crime.

While Melissa James, 32, admitted to writing out three checks worth $1,583.43 to herself without permission from her employer, prosecutors argue that she was also responsible for a total of $47,806.08 in forged checks.

Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis, who handed down the probation sentence Monday, scheduled a hearing for March 15 to discuss what amount in restitution James should pay.

Before the sentence was handed down, James' former Cape Girardeau employer, Dr. Paul W. Clarke, spoke in court about his desire to see all of his money returned.

"This has been a long, premeditated affair," Clarke said of the forgery scheme. He claimed evidence shows there were 104 additional checks that were embezzled totaling about $46,000.

"I'd like to see my money back," he said.

Lewis said the amount James would be required to pay back would depend on how much was stolen and how much she can afford. He shelved further argument on the restitution matter until the March hearing.

While in court, Clarke said he agreed with the prosecutor's reasoning for probation. He later said in a telephone interview that he felt "let down" at the sentencing.

"She was caught taking $48,000. She was caught using drugs and all she got was, 'Don't do it again,'" he said.

James pleaded guilty in December to three counts of felony forgery.

In the scheme, the defendant printed out and cashed checks that were made out to either herself or the Family Support Payment Center.

She also pleaded guilty to fraudulently attempting to obtain a controlled substance from various pharmacies in Cape Girardeau. James had attempted to refill prescriptions on Xanex and hydrocodone on two occasions after her employment at Clarke's office was terminated.

The defendant could have faced up to 21 years in prison for the forgery counts, and up to eight years in prison for the fraud counts.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127