A former Bellevue clerk admitted Tuesday to embezzling money from the city.
Lacey Ann Loughmiller's guilty plea to grand theft by embezzlement headed off a jury trial that was scheduled to start Wednesday in Blaine County 5th District Court. Her admission of guilt was in accord with a plea agreement with the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, which will recommend that she serve 180 days in jail rather than face a prison sentence.
The recommendation is not binding on presiding Judge John K. Butler, and Loughmiller is free to argue for more lenient punishment at sentencing on Dec. 1.
Loughmiller, a 30-year-old Richfield resident, was charged in February with embezzling $13,880 from the city of Bellevue between May and December 2007. Loughmiller, who worked as an administrative clerk for the Bellevue Water and Sewer Department, resigned her post in February 2008 when an investigation was underway into the missing funds.
A probable cause affidavit filed with the court by former Bellevue Marshal Ron Taylor states that Loughmiller embezzled money from utility payments and kept false records to hide the theft.
Loughmiller was never arrested, but was instead issued a court summons charging her with the crime.
Under the provisions of the plea agreement, the prosecutor's office will also recommend that Loughmiller be sentenced to a seven-year suspended prison sentenced. She would be placed on probation with the 180-jail sentence as a condition of probation.
Loughmiller would also be fined $1,000 and ordered to reimburse the city of Bellevue $13,880.96.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
