According to a news release from New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, the former clerk of the town of Rosendale justice court stole nearly $6,000 in cash from collections without detection.
The findings were uncovered in an audit by the Comptroller’s office.
The clerk, Trudy Harper, was arrested in June and charged by Ulster County District Attorney D. Holley Carnright with third degree grand larceny, a class D felony. Harper is due back in Saugerties Town Court on Dec. 10.
In a statement, Dinapoli said, “This individual broke her promise to safeguard town funds and tried to cover up her crime.”
Harper tried to hide the crime by transferring bail money from one justice’s account to another. Harper later admitted to investigators that she took money from the court without permission. Harper is accused of stealing approximately $5,620.
