Ex-Minn. city employee pleads guilty to theft

A former Deer River city employee has pleaded guilty to stealing about $100,000 while she worked as the city's deputy motor vehicle clerk.

Sheila Marie Jerry, 51, of Deer River pleaded guilty Tuesday to one felony count of theft of public funds in Itasca County District Court. She also gave the court more than $112,000 in restitution.

According to the complaint, Jerry told investigators last fall that she had stolen money for the past five years by keeping the paperwork and fees for titles on new automobiles. She stamped the title paperwork but not the original copies later sent to the state, keeping the cash from the title transfer.

The theft ended when another woman noticed discrepancies.

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The Duluth News Tribune reports sentencing is set for April 30.

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Information from: Duluth News Tribune

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