Michigan Woman To Face Trial For Embezzling $131K From Local Township; Had Served As Town Clerk

From The Times Herald on 2/23/2015:

Former Clay Township clerk Lisa White will face trial on charges of stealing more than $100,000 from the township.

White, 45, waived her preliminary examination Monday in St. Clair County Judge Cynthia Platzer’s courtroom on charges of embezzlement by a public official and embezzlement of more than $100,000.

White remained quiet while she stood beside her lawyer, Arthur Garton, during much of the court hearing. She told Platzer that she had moved from Harsens Island to an address in Fair Haven.
White declined to comment on the case prior to the hearing.

Police have said White embezzled about $131,000 from the township between 2009 and 2014.
She allegedly added the money to her husband’s salary at the township fire department, and her own salaries as clerk and as captain at the Clay Township Fire Department.

Embezzlement by a public official is a 10-year felony. Embezzlement of $100,000 or more is a 20-year felony.

White resigned her position as clerk last week. She had not been to the township offices since the November election.

She was elected clerk in 2008 and was paid about $55,000 a year as clerk.

Clay Township Supervisor Artie Bryson said anyone interested in completing White’s term as clerk should send a resume and cover letter to supervisor@claytownship.org. White’s term expires Nov. 20, 2016.

The board will consider those applications received.

The township board has 45 days to appoint a new clerk. Otherwise, the matter will be decided in a special election, Bryson said.

In October, Clay Township said it expected it would face about $700,000 in fines from the Internal Revenue Service because of errors made in the clerk’s office.

The Michigan State Police began an investigation into the matter, which led to the embezzlement charge against White in early February.

A second charge of embezzlement of $100,000 or more was added Wednesday.

White served on the township fire department up until the township board of trustees removed her from her position as captain in November.

White’s $50,000 bond was continued at the end of the hearing Monday. A date for White’s circuit court arraignment has not been set.