Payne County embezzlement

(Stillwater-AP) -- A woman who officials say confessed to embezzling cash from Payne County allegedly used the money to gamble at casinos. <br/><br/>The Payne County treasurer's first deputy, Sharon

Sunday, June 27th 2004, 11:12 am

By: News On 6

(Stillwater-AP) -- A woman who officials say confessed to embezzling cash from Payne County allegedly used the money to gamble at casinos.

The Payne County treasurer's first deputy, Sharon Lynn Harrison, was charged June 14th with three counts each of embezzling money and falsifying a public record.

District Attorney Rob Hudson says more charges are possible.

Harrison has a July 12th court appearance set.

Officials say Harrison has embezzled at least 58-thousand dollars since September 2002.

Payne County Treasurer Bonita Stadler says Harrison worked her way up from a data entry clerk to chief bookkeeper over 16 years and was four years away from retirement.

Stadler says Harrison often talked about going to nearby American Indian casinos. She says Harrison said she thought she would win big and be able to pay back the money.