MONROE - Joyce Ziehli, accused of embezzling more than $850,000 from the New Glarus Home, is scheduled to formally enter a plea on Oct. 7.
Defense and prosecution met Thursday in Green County Circuit Court to potentially dismiss one of Ziehli's six Class G Felony counts of theft over $10,000 in a business setting. Count one was not dismissed, but will be reviewed and potentially dismissed after Ziehli's Oct. 7 status conference.
Ziehli's attorney, Robert Duxstad, argues that the prosecution does not have enough evidence to charge Ziehli for count one which includes the years 2003 to 2007 when Ziehli worked for the home and allegedly embezzled funds.
Ziehli, 55, Belleville, worked for the home for 31 years and had most recently held the position of administrative secretary. Court records allege she stole funds over a 10-year period from 2003 to 2013 by writing out checks in her name and approving them with a stamp of her former boss's signature. She allegedly used the money to pay off credit card bills.
Ziehli's case was bound over for a status conference and she is required to have no contact with the New Glarus Home or its campus and not to leave the state without court permission. If convicted for the maximum penalty on all counts, Ziehli could face up to $150,000 in fines or 60 years in prison or both.
- Tom Holm
Defense and prosecution met Thursday in Green County Circuit Court to potentially dismiss one of Ziehli's six Class G Felony counts of theft over $10,000 in a business setting. Count one was not dismissed, but will be reviewed and potentially dismissed after Ziehli's Oct. 7 status conference.
Ziehli's attorney, Robert Duxstad, argues that the prosecution does not have enough evidence to charge Ziehli for count one which includes the years 2003 to 2007 when Ziehli worked for the home and allegedly embezzled funds.
Ziehli, 55, Belleville, worked for the home for 31 years and had most recently held the position of administrative secretary. Court records allege she stole funds over a 10-year period from 2003 to 2013 by writing out checks in her name and approving them with a stamp of her former boss's signature. She allegedly used the money to pay off credit card bills.
Ziehli's case was bound over for a status conference and she is required to have no contact with the New Glarus Home or its campus and not to leave the state without court permission. If convicted for the maximum penalty on all counts, Ziehli could face up to $150,000 in fines or 60 years in prison or both.
- Tom Holm