Prosecutors charge Fort Gibson municipal court clerk with embezzlement

Saturday, November 10th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) _ Muskogee County prosecutors have charged a longtime Fort Gibson municipal court clerk with embezzlement by a public officer and destruction of public records.

Linda Greer is accused of embezzling more than $38,000 in traffic tickets, fines and court fees, prosecutor Dean Burris said following her court appearance on Friday. Her next court date is Dec. 14.

A court clerk and occasional police dispatcher since 1991, Greer is accused of taking money brought in by people paying tickets and other fines. The cash was never deposited into city accounts, Burris said.

``We suspect she more or less pocketed cash without making deposits,'' he said. ``Some records were made to hide or conceal what she was doing.''

Court records cover Greer's alleged embezzlements since October 1999. She resigned last week.

Fort Gibson city officials began their probe a month ago. An impromptu check of deposit books reportedly revealed unexpected inconsistencies.

City Manager and Police Chief Richard Slader said a Muskogee firm now is auditing Fort Gibson's municipal court books.

He reassured any individuals who may be afraid that payments they made long ago have not been credited to them.

``We've actually got receipts even for the money that's missing,'' Slader said.

The town is hoping to get its money back in restitution if Greer is convicted or through its bond insurance.