Marion man pleads guilty to collecting nearly $70,000 in unemployment benefits while employed

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Marion man, who collected nearly $70,000 in unemployment benefits over the course of six years while being employed at a Hiawatha business, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Thursday in Linn County District Court.

Robert McCorkle, 49, originally charged with first-degree fraudulent practice, instead pleaded to third-degree fraudulent practice. Under this charge, he admitted to filing and collecting over $500 in unemployment benefits he was not entitled to claim over the course of 171 weeks from 2009 through 2015.

The criminal complaint shows McCorkle collected $69,897 over the six years, by claiming to be unemployed. McCorkle was actually employed during this period by Newell Machinery Company in Hiawatha.

McCorkle faces up to two years in jail for the aggravated misdemeanor, and he also must pay $69,897, plus penalties in restitution to the State of Iowa.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Rena Schulte said McCorkle has asked for a deferred judgment and because he doesn't have any criminal history, the judge will likely grant it. However, his restitution must be paid in full before the case will be expunged from his record, which results when a defendant is given a deferred judgment, she said.

Schulte declined to provide more details about the crime. More information may come out at sentencing, which is set for Jan. 16.

l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com