By Jeff Lehr
jlehr@joplinglobe.com
ALBA, Mo. — Alba’s fired city clerk is accused of embezzling almost $80,000 in town funds.
Heather J. Baugh, 32, of rural Reeds, turned herself in Monday on a warrant for her arrest in connection with the alleged theft. She posted $3,500 bond and was released pending an arraignment July 15 in Jasper County Circuit Court.
The county prosecutor’s office filed the charge against Baugh on June 23. But a bond amount was not obtained until Friday, when the warrant was issued, according to court records.
Baugh, formerly Heather Cochran, was employed by the city from April 2007 until May of this year, when town funds reportedly were discovered missing and her employment was terminated by the Alba Board of Aldermen. Board minutes from 2008 that are accessible on the Internet show her position with the city as city clerk.
Detective Kevin Mitchell of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department told the Globe that Alba’s mayor contacted the department about the matter on May 7, and an investigation was launched. Mitchell said the town’s financial records were pulled, and they allegedly show that Baugh stole $78,753.53 over the course of her employment.
A probable-cause affidavit alleges that Baugh wrote extra paychecks to herself and used city credit cards without authorization. The affidavit states that Baugh admitted to stealing the money and using the credit cards for personal gain.
Mitchell told the Globe that money was missing from the town’s general fund, and from its operating and maintenance account. He said he was limited in what he could reveal about details of the investigation, including how the alleged thefts were accomplished. But he said three city credit cards were involved.
A telephone listing for Alba Mayor Troy Browning could not be found, and the Globe’s efforts to reach him for comment Wednesday afternoon were unsuccessful. Aldermen Paul Myers and Travis Shafer declined comment, and referred questions to the mayor. Calls to the homes of other board members went unanswered.
Class B felony
The theft charge that Heather Baugh is facing is a Class B felony in Missouri, punishable by five to 15 years in prison.
