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D.A. says former Potsdam court clerk's plea deal in embezzlement case allows town to recoup stolen funds

Posted 1/22/15

POTSDAM -- District Attorney Mary Rain says that a plea deal offered to the former Potsdam court clerk convicted of embezzlement charges was designed to ensure the Town of Potsdam got its stolen …

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D.A. says former Potsdam court clerk's plea deal in embezzlement case allows town to recoup stolen funds

Posted

POTSDAM -- District Attorney Mary Rain says that a plea deal offered to the former Potsdam court clerk convicted of embezzlement charges was designed to ensure the Town of Potsdam got its stolen money back.

“An important part of this plea agreement was taking into consideration the needs of the victim, the Town of Potsdam. Two felonies were charged and she pled to two felonies,” Rain said. “This plea will allow for a substantial amount of the money owed to the Town to be repaid upfront while continued payments are made during her time on probation.”

Guyette pleaded today in St. Lawrence County Court to charges of third-degree grand larceny and falsifying business records. She is expected to be sentenced to five years’ probation with the first six months in the county jail.

Guyette was charged stemming from an investigation that began in June 2013 after Guyette came under suspicion for misappropriating court funds and altering computer and paper records while employed by the Town of Potsdam.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's office completed an audit and investigation, which determined that Guyette had stolen approximately $117,000 in court funds between 2009 and 2014, police said. She also altered records in order to cover up the theft.

She has been under probationary supervision while the case is pending.