Former municipal employee gets deferred judgment in theft

An Iowa judge deferred the judgment and sentence for a municipal employee who admitted to taking more than $10,000 from her employer.

Kari Lynn Cantrell, 30, received the judgment in court on Thursday, April 15, and Judge Patrick R. Grady ruled that Cantrell would be under probation for 3 years and that she may serve up to a whole year in a correctional facility.

Cantrell was an administrative assistant for the City of Vinton's Parks and Recreation Department until Aug. 30, 2007, when city officials found that city checks were being redeemed at local gas stations.

Cantrell admitted that she stole $10,001 and plead guilty to first degree theft charges.

She is expected to pay for court costs as well as pay $1,201.63 in restitution to the City of Vinton.