Ex-county employee to plead to theft

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 12:02 PM EDT article source

A former Lawrence County Treasurer’s Office employee accused of taking more than $20,000 is expected to admit her guilt today in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Rae-Lyn Robinson, of Perry Township, is expected to plead guilty on a bill of information to a theft charge, Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier, Jr., said Tuesday.

In exchange for the guilty plea, she will receive four years community-controlled sanctions, or probation. She has already paid back the more than $20,000 she took from the treasurer’s office. The money was taken late last year. Robinson is no longer employed with the treasurer’s office.

“We wanted to make sure what the final tally was and that she paid it all back,” Collier said.

Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Dale Burcham said once the incident came to light, steps were taken to rectify the situation.

“I want to emphasize our office worked diligently and conscientiously in assessing the entire amount taken and took all steps necessary to make sure the money was repaid. Every account that was affected was credited in full and no interest or penalties were assessed,” Burcham said.

Robinson will appear before Judge D. Scott Bowling.

By pleading guilty on a bill of information, she admits her guilt and thus avoids having her case heard by a grand jury and avoids taking her case to court for trial.