Shawnee School employee enters plea to embezzlement charge

(Shawnee-AP) -- An elementary school principal has resigned after entering a plea to a felony embezzlement charge. <br><br>Merrie Susan Foote of Choctaw, was charged in Pottawatomie County District Court

Thursday, August 14th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Shawnee-AP) -- An elementary school principal has resigned after entering a plea to a felony embezzlement charge.

Merrie Susan Foote of Choctaw, was charged in Pottawatomie County District Court with one count of embezzlement.

Foote presented an eight-thousand dollar restitution check and her letter of resignation during a court hearing yesterday.

Foote pleaded no contest to appropriating the money between July 1999 and May 31st through her employment as the school's principal.

While the maximum sentence for embezzlement is up to five years in prison, prosecutors recommended a three-year deferred sentence.

A recent investigation by the state auditor's office reported about 27-thousand dollars missing from the student activities account.