St. Francois County official charged in theft of funds

PARK HILLS, Mo. (AP) -- A St. Francois County official has been accused of stealing nearly $10,000 from the county.

The Missouri Attorney General's office filed felony and misdemeanor theft charges Monday against Stephanie Skaggs, 31. Authorities said the thefts began Jan. 24 and continued through at least July 1.

Skaggs was an assistant collector for the southeast Missouri county.

Collector Pamela Williams reported the missing money July 2, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The missing funds corresponded with a series of void transactions made from a computer terminal used by Skaggs, the affidavit said. Skaggs admitted to a detective taking money collected for payment of taxes, according to the affidavit.

The attorney general's office handled the case after St. Francois County prosecutor Wendy Wexler Horn recused herself and requested a special prosecutor.