A former Clinton School District employee has plead guilty to stealing money from the district. Denisa Babcock, 37, was charged with stealing $1.2 million from the district while working in the business office. As part of her plea agreement, she will forfeit a couple of vehicles, a boat and a home that were purchased with money embezzled from the school district.
Babcock was employed in the business office when the thefts occurred between November 2005 and December 2009. The charges went to the federal level because federal money for special education was misappropriated. The district has received two separate payments from their insurance company for $500,000 each and Superintendent Deb Olson says they expect to recover the remaining $200,000 in the case.
Babcock lost her job in November 2009 because of budget cuts by the district. Babcock remains on pretrial release from jail until her sentencing which has yet to be scheduled.
by Dave Vickers, KROS, Clinton