DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A former eastern Iowa jail clerk has admitted to misappropriating at least $169,000 from the Scott County sheriff’s office.
Jennifer Wierson, a former senior account clerk, pleaded guilty Friday to a federal charge of theft from a government receiving federal program funds, the Quad-City Times reports.
Wierson was fired in 2015.
Wierson told authorities her scheme initially started with small amounts of money she intended to pay back. She says she was getting a divorce she could not afford and was trying to keep her car, her house and her kids comfortable. She says it got out of control and was hard to stop.
Wierson managed accounts for several jail programs.