ROSENDALE – The former clerk of the
Town of Rosendale Justice Court is going to make full restitution after
admitting that she stole close to $6,000 in cash from bail collections.
Trudy Harper, 40, was arrested in June. She pled guilty and was sentenced
to three years’ probation and ordered to pay full restitution. She
was also fired from her job.
Authorities discovered the money was missing following an audit by the
state comptroller’s office.
The theft was discovered following an audit by the state comptroller’s
office last year.
She had controlled all phases of the court’s cash collection process
with little oversight by the two town justices. As a result, she was able
to cover up the theft of some $5,620. She later attempted to conceal the
crime by transferring bail money from one justice’s account to another.
