Attorney General's News Release

March 1, 2007

Former deputy juvenile officer sentenced to three years in prison for stealing crime victim restitution, forgery

Plattsburg City, Mo. — A former Clinton County deputy juvenile officer was sentenced today to three years in prison after pleading guilty to charges he stole money intended as restitution for crime victims and forged documents — including presenting the forged signature of a judge — in order to steal funds. Attorney General Jay Nixon prosecuted the charges against Jeffery Clark (DOB — 9/12/71) after the Clinton County prosecuting attorney recused himself because of a conflict of interest.

Platte County Circuit Judge Abe Shafer sentenced Clark to three years concurrent on one count of stealing and one of forgery, and suspended imposition of sentence on three additional counts of stealing and one additional count of forgery. The judge also ordered Clark to pay restitution of approximately $13,500 as a condition of his probation. The case was heard on a change of venue to Platte County from Clinton County.

Nixon's charges alleged that over a period from 2002 to 2004, Clark stole money paid by juvenile offenders or their families that was intended as restitution for crime victims in Clinton County. One of the forgery charges Clark pleaded guilty to alleged he present the forged signature of a judge on a court order in order to take money held by the Clinton County Sheriff's Department; the other forgery charge alleged he signed the name of another juvenile officer in order to cash a money order to be used for restitution for crime victims.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818