Attorney General's News Release

June 27, 2007

Former employee of Buchanan County Prosecutor’s Office sentenced to seven years in prison for felony stealing

St. Joseph, Mo. — A former clerk in the Buchanan County Prosecutor’s Office who stole more than $30,000 from the office’s bad check fund was sentenced today to seven years in prison on one count of felony stealing in Buchanan County Circuit Court. Holly Keller (DOB - 11/19/75) of St. Joseph pled guilty in an open plea. Judge Daniel Kellogg retained the right to review Keller’s sentence after 120 days incarceration.

The office of Attorney General Jay Nixon was appointed special prosecutor in the case after the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney cited a conflict of interest.

Nixon filed a charge of felony stealing against Keller on March 6. A probable cause statement filed with the charges said that Keller was employed to collect bad checks in the prosecuting attorney’s office. Nixon alleged that between Sept. 24, 2004 and Jan. 29, 2007, Keller stole $30,611.15 from the bad check fund.

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