Attorney General's News Release

August 22, 2006

Former employee of Lincoln County Circuit Court sentenced to five years probation, to pay restitution

Troy, Mo. — A former employee of the Lincoln County Circuit Court clerk's office was sentenced today to five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and ordered pay $3,877 in restitution after being convicted of stealing. Attorney General Jay Nixon filed felony stealing charges in November 2005 against Lenora Johnson (DOB 5/23/59) after she collected funds for the court but failed to deposit them.

Lincoln County Circuit Judge Anna Fordor sentenced Johnson to five years imprisonment, then suspended the sentence and placed her on probation. Johnson could be ordered to prison at any time during her five years of probation if she fails to abide by the conditions of her supervision.

According to Nixon's charges, the clerk of the 45th Judicial Circuit contacted authorities when she discovered that numerous hand-written receipts were issued but never entered into the Justice Information System - nor was the cash ever deposited into the county's bank account. A total of $3,877 was determined to be missing.

All of the receipts were signed by Johnson, according to court records. According to staff in charge of finances and accounting for the judicial circuit, the only time hand-written receipts are issued is when the JIS is down and information cannot be entered into the system.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818