REED CITY — The case against former Marion Fair Board member charged with embezzlement is moving forward.
Rebecca Jeanne Johnson, 43, of Marion, was arrested in February and charged with one count of embezzlement by an agent or trustee of more than $20,000, but less than $50,000.
Last week, Johnson’s case was bound over from Osceola County’s 77th District Court to Osceola County’s 49th Circuit Court. She is scheduled to have a pre-trial hearing at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 20.
Johnson is accused of embezzling the money from January 2014 to September 2015, according to court documents.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the Marion Fair Board after it was reported in September exhibitors from the July fair still had not received their money from the sale of livestock.
Once the investigation began, the board’s president, along with Johnson, who served as treasurer, resigned from their positions.
In October, a restructured Marion Fair Board was able to pay the more than $37,500 owed to 39 kids awaiting their checks.
Osceola County Prosecutor Tyler Thompson chose to authorize the embezzlement charge after careful review of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation.
The embezzlement charge is a felony, with a possible penalty of 10 years in prison and fines of $15,000 or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater.
