SULLIVAN COUNTY, MO. -- A former heartland public official who admitted taking more than half a million dollars in public money has reached a plea deal.
52-year-old Kathy Roberts of Downing, Mo. reached a plea deal on June 6, before her scheduled jury trial in Sullivan County on a state charge. Roberts pleaded guilty to stealing $25,000 or more. Roberts' case was moved from Schuyler County to Sullivan County on a change of venue.
According to court documents, Sullivan County Circuit Judge Gary Ravens sentenced Roberts to 15 years in prison with suspended execution of sentence and five years of supervised probation.
On May 4, Roberts was ordered to serve 33 months in prison, and pay restitution in the full amount of $568,974 after pleading guilty to a federal charge of mail fraud.
Roberts was the elected collector in Schuyler County since 1987. During her time in office, she admitted to receiving cash payments for county taxes , then using that money for personal purposes instead of depositing the money into the county's bank account.
Previous stories:
Former county collector collects prison time for theft
Former public official indicted
Former county official pleads guilty!
County collector resigns; funds missing
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