Former Dubuque County employee pleads guilty to taking money

Criminal charges are filed against a former Dubuque County worker who is accused of embezzling money from a county office.52-year-old James Powers, a former employee in the county recorder’s office, pleaded guilty to stealing. He hasn’t yet been sentenced. Powers is ordered to pay up to 45-thousand dollars restitution. After working in the office since 1970, he was fired in May of 2000 after an audit found 95-thousand dollars missing.