July 27th, 2011 - 3:28pm
http://www.konp.com/local/7085
(Port Angeles) -- A jury today returned guilty verdicts on a series of 21 criminal counts against a former Clallam County cashier accused of stealing thousands of tax dollars.
The Clallam County Superior Court jury found Catherine Betts guilty of First-Degree Theft and an additional count of money laundering.
Investigators say she embezzled nearly 620-thousand dollars from the Clallam County treasurers office between 2003 and 2009.
Jurors also determined Betts crimes are eligible for a special enhancement for a series of major economic offenses since she was in a position of public trust.
Betts was also found guilty on a series of 19 counts of Filing a Fraudulent Tax Return.
Closing arguments wrapped up this morning and jury returned their verdict later in the afternoon.
Investigators say she exchanged checks intended for real estate taxes for money that was in her till and then falsified the transactions.
Betts was remanded to jail immediately and sentencing will occur by August 17th.