Woman accused of embezzling from Washtenaw County Circuit Court waives right to preliminary hearing
A woman accused of embezzling at least $1,000 from the Washtenaw County Circuit Court during the past year while she was employed there, waived her right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday, county court records show.
Kimberly Ann Elmer, 36, of Bridgewater Township, is charged with embezzlement by a public officer of more than $50, embezzlement of more than $999, but less than $20,000 and two counts of stealing or retaining a financial transaction device without consent.
Elmer, who worked as an assistant to the Washtenaw County Trial Court administrator, is accused of taking benefit cards designated to pay jurors and using those cards at court ATMs on East Huron Street to withdraw money for herself. She waived her right to the hearing in 14A District Court and remains free on a personal recognizance bond.
If convicted of embezzlement by a public officer, Elmer faces up to 10 years in prison.
Elmer is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing Oct. 18.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Roadman
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:16 p.m.
I wonder if the State Court Administrative office in Lansing has been notified so they can investigate what occurred here?
RJA
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 3:33 p.m.
Is she a flight risk? No, OK then.
Chris 8 - YPSI PRIDE
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 12:38 p.m.
I don't know exactly what she is alleged to have done, or how many different times this is alleged to have occured. It sounds to me like someone was taking a $20 bill here ant there off of Jurors pay cards, which everyone seems to be using these days instead of the old way with paper checks. It makes me wonder how many other public and private facilities this may be going on in. Things today are to automated and billions of transactions take place daily by computer without humans overlooking anything. This probably went on unnoticed for a while. I'll say this, if I was one of the Jurors, and my pay card didn't arrive, or arrived shorted funds, I would have been on the phone or online checking the balance and looking for anything out of the ordinary. I make sure every time a transaction above $1 sends an alert to my cell phone every time I use any card. If she actually did this and I was expecting a pay card she would have been caught immediately or much sooner because I would have been screaming up a storm if my card didn't arrive in a timely manner or arrived shorted funds. I know when I get a ticket, the court expects it to be paid promptly or they take action against my driving privlidges plus they add close to what is considered illegal late charges.
girlhunter
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:55 a.m.
I was just kinda wondering where the check and balances are???? and should the sentencing be placed in another court?
Roadman
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:20 p.m.
The circuit court judges need to recuse themselves and have the case sent to another court for criminal prosecution. There should also be an outside investigation by the State Court Administrative Offfice and Michigan State Police since a circuit court employee is charged and the Sheriff provides court security; this avoids conflict of interest possibilities.
Roadman
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 2 a.m.
There should be an investigation by the Court Administrator, Mr Dwyer, and the Chief Judge Shelton to determine how much in funds, if any, was actually taken, who had notice this conduct was allegedly occurring or possibly occurring and who was responsible for implementing controls in the first place to prevent possible embezzlement from happening. Allegations of misconduct such as what has been charged here could be avoided usually if a sound system of checks balances is employed to protect government monies from possible fiduciary malfeasance. Corrective action may be needed at the circuit court to prevent possible allegations such as the charges here from recurring. There is likely a certain degree of egg that may land on the faces of some supervisory personnel if a thorough investigation occurs and it is determined that lax internal controls contributed to this alleged incident. Also, is it appropriate for her trial or sentencing to occur in the circuit court that Elmer is accused of victimizing? Sounds to me like a possible conflict of interest.