By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
A Levan woman has been charged on 24 counts of misuse of
public funds and falsifying government records.
Gayle Peterson, town treasurer, was arrested and
booked into Juab County Jail on the charges. She was
released on her own recognizance.
The arrest came following an investigation made by
Juab County Sheriff David Carter and Justin Kimball,
deputy.
"The town mayor noticed some suspicious entries in the
books," said David Leavitt, county attorney. "The resulting
investigation uncovered the misappropriation of an
accumulative amount of $2,700."
It has been alleged, said Leavitt, that Peterson had
been taking money which had been brought to the town.
Accounts were entered into the record as being paid but some
of the funds were then deposited into Peterson's personal
account.
Those record alterations are considered falsifying
government records since Levan town is a government
entity.
All counts are third degree felony offenses.
"There are 12 separate acts of misuse of public funds
and 12 separate acts of falsifying a government record,"
said Leavitt.
The acts charged were for just this year, he said. An
investigation is continuing but at this point, investigators
have no idea if any further indiscretion will be found.
Leavitt said he will ask for restitution as far as
repayment of the funds are concerned. Additionally, each of
the charges carries a potential of 0 to 5 years in
prison.
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