Embezzlement trial reset to January for former Alburnett city clerk

ALBURNETT - The embezzlement trial of a former city clerk has been shifted to Jan. 30 in Linn County District Court.

Amber Franklin, 45, of Alburnett, is charged with first-degree theft. She's accused of embezzling more than $100,000 from the city in improper disbursements and misappropriations between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2009.

Alburnett Mayor David Boesenberg said Franklin resigned in January 2010 after he asked her to research public accounting firms to audit the city's finances. According to a state audit report, $102,980 was misappropriated and used for personal purposes.

According to the state auditor's report, Franklin paid herself $12,664 in unauthorized payroll and $2,709 for paid time off she wasn't entitled to receive, along with $48,812 for which there was no explanation or support.

There also were improper disbursements of $6,071 of personal purchases Franklin made using the city's credit card and $6,852 of personal purchases made with the city's checking account, according to the audit. An additional $7,245 of checks were issued for petty cash.