ST. LOUIS -- A former Heartland public official facing federal charges made her first appearance in court on Wednesday.
  
Kathy Roberts, 51, of Downing, Missouri is the former Schuyler County Collector. She entered a plea of not guilty to one count of mail fraud in federal court in Saint Louis. 
    
Roberts is accused of embezzling more than $500,000 in county tax money while in office.

According to the indictment, it is alleged that Roberts took the money between January of 1992 and August of this year. Roberts resigned following the discovery.

A replacement for Roberts has yet to be appointed by Governor Jay Nixon.

Roberts is being represented by a public defender and her next court date is set for November 7th.

She remains free on bond.




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