A former employee of the village of DeGraff has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $150,000.
Jennifer Dearwester, 48, of Bellefontaine, pleaded guilty Monday before Logan County Common Pleas Court Judge Kevin Braig to two third-degree felonies including theft in office, and tampering with records.
She faces up to six years in prison when she is sentenced June 25.
In February the former utility clerk was indicted on three counts of tampering with records; as well as single counts of theft in office and aggravated theft.
She was employed by the village between September 2006 and March 2018.
Between January 2014 and March 2018, Dearwester misappropriated cash utility payments from village residents and tampered with information in the village utility system. It is believed that the losses to the village exceed $150,000, according to an investigation by the special investigations unit of the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office.
“Our Special Investigations Unit is a group of law enforcement professionals dedicated to rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse in government,” Auditor Keith Faber said.
“Thanks to their hard work, Ohioans everywhere can rest assured knowing someone is looking out for their hard earned tax dollars.”