lawrenceburgnow.com
lawrenceburgnow.com
navhome navlife nav411 navdeaths

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Four Year Sentence Handed Down In Housing Authority Embezzlement Case

   A Lawrenceburg woman accused of embezzling funds from the Lawrenceburg Housing Authority opted to enter into a plea bargain agreement this week rather than stand trial.

   Nedenia Jada Sanders Baxter, 45, charged with one count of theft, entered the plea before Judge Robert Holloway in Lawrence County Circuit Court Monday morning.

   The discrepancies in the agency’s books were discovered in late 2006. Minutes from a November 16, 2006, meeting of the housing authority board state, “Nedenia Baxter was present at the beginning of the meeting and told the board that she had increased her salary without authorization and had given herself extra checks which she said she had signed (Director Eddy Casteel’s) name to. She told the Board that she had trouble with her finances and how sorry she was that she knew she had let everyone down.”

   The board conferred with Housing Authority Attorney David Allen, who set up a meeting with Assistant District Attorney Jim White. In addition, an audit was contracted through Henderson and Associates.

   Minutes from the board’s January 18, 2007, meeting makes reference to the audit findings, indicating that Baxter had stolen a total of $6,123.56. It reports that, “the theft began in April, 2006, and ended in November, 2006.”

   Officials indicate that Baxter’s employment was terminated, and that she did make full restitution prior to any court proceedings.

   Rather than going through the more typical channels, Baxter and defense attorney Chris Sockwell opted to enter her plea through “criminal information.” This allowed her to skip the process of moving through General Sessions Court and the Lawrence County Grand Jury, and instead go straight before a Circuit Court Judge.

   Under the plea bargain agreement, Baxter entered a plea of guilty to one count of D felony theft, punishable by imprisonment of two to twelve years. She entered a “best interest” guilty plea, admitting no guilt, but which Holloway explained, “Means that you think it is in your best interest not to contest the facts of the case in court.”

   In accordance with the agreement, Holloway placed Baxter on four years of probation, with a post plea diversion. Should she have no further problems under the law, Holloway pointed out, she may be able to have the charges expunged from her record once her sentence is ended.

.

.