(Fort Dodge)– A Fort Dodge man charged with embezzling over 43-thousand dollars from a Girl Scout group entered a guilty plea Tuesday in Webster County District Court.
According to court records, 25-year-old Thomas Wilson pleaded guilty to ongoing criminal conduct, a class “B” felony; and first-degree theft, a class “C” felony. Wilson could receive up to 35 years in prison…but under terms of a plea agreement, he would get a suspended prison sentence, five years probation and pay restitution. In addition, a class “C” felony charge of fraudulent practices was dropped.
In court Tuesday, Wilson admitted to taking money while employed as the Girl Scout Council’s bookkeeper from January to December of last year.
Wilson will be sentenced October 17th.
Council officials say the loss of funds forced them to charge extra fees for events and to cut back on staff hours. The Lakota Council spans 14 counties and has about 24-hundred Girl Scouts. The council includes Girl Scout troops in Buena Vista, Sac, Pocahontas, Clay and Dickinson counties.
(Story from Joel Herman of sister station KAYL in Storm Lake).
