The office of special prosecutions filed one charge of first-degree theft Monday against Katherine L. Turner, 39, the former district accounting supervisor at the courthouse.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported that Ron Woods, the area court administrator, contacted Alaska State Troopers July 9 after noticing irregularities in bail deposits.
Court documents said many entries had been backdated to show money being received weeks or months after it should have been deposited, and all of the suspicious transactions had been made by Turner.
Questioned by troopers a week later, Turner admitted to using a "pyramid-type scheme" to embezzle money during the past three years, according to court documents.
The newspaper said no attorney for Turner was listed in court records.
She was removed from her position as accounting supervisor in July, about the same time Woods sent a memo to courthouse employees about the investigation.
A search of her car also turned up 89 missing court documents related to the missing money.
Turner, who has no prior criminal record, reportedly told troopers she used the money for "living expenses."
Most of the cash, $144,000, was deposited but investigators say $93,000 is missing.



Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.
