Former Jeffco Administrator Pleads Guilty To Theft
Records: Woman Had Gambling Problem
POSTED: 5:31 p.m. MDT July 29, 2003
The former Jefferson County Director of Human Services entered a guilty plea Tuesday to theft charges involving misuse of county credits cards and $52,000 in unauthorized charges.
Jennifer Louise Simmerman, 44 (pictured, left), was arrested in March for unauthorized use of county funds over a two-year period. An investigation revealed the unauthorized charges on county credit cards issued to Simmerman.
The charges included $32,000 in purchases at 20 grocery stores over a two-year period, county officials said earlier. Those include two purchases of $2,400 each within a week at a King Soopers store. Prosecutors alleged that Simmerman bought grocery certificates with the county-issued credits cards and then later cashed them in.
Court records reflect that Simmerman was a frequent visitor to the casinos in Black Hawk, Colo., and that she admitted to having a gambling problem.
As part of the plea agreement, Simmerman will have to pay $40,000 in restitution no later than the date of sentencing, which is Sept. 15. The District Attorney's Office is recommending a sentence to Community Corrections, but Simmerman could face a prison sentence of between 4 and 12 years.
Jennifer Louise Simmerman, 44 (pictured, left), was arrested in March for unauthorized use of county funds over a two-year period. An investigation revealed the unauthorized charges on county credit cards issued to Simmerman.
The charges included $32,000 in purchases at 20 grocery stores over a two-year period, county officials said earlier. Those include two purchases of $2,400 each within a week at a King Soopers store. Prosecutors alleged that Simmerman bought grocery certificates with the county-issued credits cards and then later cashed them in.
Court records reflect that Simmerman was a frequent visitor to the casinos in Black Hawk, Colo., and that she admitted to having a gambling problem.
As part of the plea agreement, Simmerman will have to pay $40,000 in restitution no later than the date of sentencing, which is Sept. 15. The District Attorney's Office is recommending a sentence to Community Corrections, but Simmerman could face a prison sentence of between 4 and 12 years.
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