Ex-county clerk cleared of theft, still faces 3 felony charges

EVERETT — A jury acquitted a former Snohomish County clerk of stealing money from a county lock box but couldn’t reach a verdict on three felony charges.

Deliberations began late Thursday afternoon in the case against Sara Nelson. The Marysville woman, 39, is accused of embezzling money in 2013 from the juvenile court’s diversion program.

Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Matt Hunter charged Nelson with three counts of misappropriation or falsification of accounts by a public officer and one count of third-degree theft.

Jurors deliberated most of Friday before acquitting Nelson of the misdemeanor theft charge. The jury was hung on the felony misappropriation charges.

A new trial date is scheduled for Sept. 16.

“At this point, the state’s intention is to go forward with the case,” Hunter said.

Nelson’s defense attorney argued during last week’s trial that the investigators failed to prove that Nelson was behind the missing money. He claimed that Nelson was targeted simply because her initials were on receipts, but evidence showed that other clerks used Nelson’s computer while she was logged on.

Hunter alleged that Nelson breached the public’s trust. He told jurors that she was in financial trouble in 2013. The deputy prosecutor said that Nelson figured out a way to game the clerk’s computerized record-keeping system and pocketed money that belonged to the county.

Part of Nelson’s job in the clerk’s office was to take cash payments from juveniles in the diversion program. Kids paid $100 to take classes as part of the requirements to avoid criminal charges.

An investigation showed that money had been collected and turned over to the court clerks for recording and processing. The clerks sent the probation office printed sheets verifying that they’d processed the payments.

Nelson is accused of logging off the system before the payments were recorded in the clerk’s database. That meant no record was created about what happened to the money, jurors were told.

Court papers said investigators uncovered more than three dozen falsified records, totalling more than $3,000.

A discrepancy was first reported in September 2013 when a probation counselor tried to verify that a juvenile had paid his fee. The boy’s last name was misspelled on paperwork so a clerk supervisor used a receipt number to track down the payment. The receipt number corresponded to a $1 photocopy fee, not the juvenile’s payment.

A supervisor began to investigate, even inquiring of Nelson how it was possible to generate a verification sheet without the payment being permanently posted to the computer accounting system. Nelson allegedly showed the woman how to post the payment, print a verification sheet and back out of the transaction before hitting the “enter” key.

“Accordingly, no one was the wiser if a cash deposit transaction was not finalized,” Hunter wrote in court papers.

Jurors were told about three payments that were never posted in the system. Nelson allegedly generated the verification sheets for those three transactions, Hunter alleged.

The jury couldn’t decide if Nelson was behind the bogus receipts.

Jurors weren’t persuaded that Nelson was responsible for money missing from the lock box. They were told that an employee deposited $100 in the box after business hours Nov. 12, 2013. It was no longer in the box when a supervisor checked two days later.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Home

Boeing workers file into Angel of the Winds Arena to vote on the latest contract proposal from the company on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Boeing Machinists approve contract, ending 52-day strike

After voting no twice, 59% of union members approved the latest contract.

Arlington
9K remain without power in Snohomish, Island counties

At one point Monday afternoon, over 20,000 had lost power. Winds were expected to subside.

Snohomish County Elections employees Frank Monkman, left, and Tina Ruybal, right, place sorted ballots in a green container on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 in Everett , Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County’s guide to the 2024 election

Here is everything you need to know before Election Day.

An aerial view of Camp Casey. The YMCA of Snohomish County has bought the property from Seattle Pacific University. (Photo provided by Seattle Pacific University via Whidbey News-Times)
Whidbey’s Camp Casey, campground and conference center, sold to YMCA

Seattle Pacific University owned the site for decades. The nonprofit plans to bring new programs to the site.

The Victorian home sits on Whidbey Island. (Alyse Young for The Washington Post)
Whidbey couple thought they found their dream home — then came the bats

The couple had no recourse after unknowingly buying a home infested with thousands of bats.

Snohomish County Elections employees check signatures on ballots on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 in Everett , Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
5 things to watch in Washington heading into Election Day

Keep your eyes on statewide initiatives, the race for public lands commissioner and two contentious congressional races.

From left to right, Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman. (Photos provided by the U.S. Navy)
Remains of Whidbey Island pilots to return this week

Lt. Cmdr Lyndsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman died in a crash on Oct. 15.

Twede’s Cafe is pictured at the corner of Bendigo Boulevard and North Bend Way on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in North Bend, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Relive ‘Twin Peaks’ with cherry pie and damn fine coffee at Twede’s Cafe

The North Bend cafe, known as Double R Diner on the campy cult-classic, serves up nostalgia and a damn good breakfast.

A Link light rail train moves northbound toward the Shoreline South station on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood light rail is super popular — but there’s a problem

Things could change when the agency rolls out a trial program to charge people $2 a day to park.

Wildfire smoke builds over Darrington on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020 in Darrington, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Darrington, Marysville tackle wood smoke to address poor air quality

Officials have launched local programs to help. But residents may need more support.

Lake Stevens’ Keagan Howard raises the ball in the air in celebration after running into the end zone for a touchdown during the game against Arlington on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington, GP, Lake will host playoff football games

Monroe and Archbishop Murphy will also play home Round of 32 games.

Arlington
1 dead in ATV crash near Arlington

Early Friday morning, an ATV rolled over and ejected one of its passengers, police said.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.