MONROE - A former long-time employee of the New Glarus Home stood mute Mon-day, Jan. 13 in Green County Cir-cuit Court on charges she stole more than $850,000 from the retirement facility.
Joyce Ziehli, 55, of Belleville is charged with six felony counts of theft of more than $10,000 in a business setting. She worked at the home for 31 years and had most recently held the position of administrative secretary. She is accused of embezzling the funds over a 10-year period from 2003 to 2013.
Green County Circuit Court Judge James Beer entered a not guilty plea on her behalf and scheduled a motion hearing for Feb. 6.
Ziehli's attorney Robert Duxstad has filed a motion to dismiss one count on the basis of statute of limitations, and motioned to delay preliminary examination upon production of required records.
Duxstad motioned for a change of venue and to prohibit the prosecution and law enforcement witnesses from making pretrial statements. He also demanded the District Attorney Gary Luhman and members of law enforcement retract their pretrial statements claiming Ziehli allegedly took more than $850,000, citing her constitutional protection of innocence until proven guilty.
The penalty for her alleged six counts of theft could add up to $150,000 in fines and up to 60 years in prison, or both.
Luhman recommended a $10,000 signature bond for each G Felony count, accruing to $60,000, and conditions that Ziehli have no contact with New Glarus Home or its campus, not leave Wisconsin without court permission and report to the Green County Sheriff's office for final booking. Judge Beer inserted the additional condition that Ziehli's passport be turned in. The district attorney said he did not consider her to be a flight risk.
Ziehli is due to return to court Thursday, Feb. 6 for a motion hearing as well as a preliminary hearing.
Joyce Ziehli, 55, of Belleville is charged with six felony counts of theft of more than $10,000 in a business setting. She worked at the home for 31 years and had most recently held the position of administrative secretary. She is accused of embezzling the funds over a 10-year period from 2003 to 2013.
Green County Circuit Court Judge James Beer entered a not guilty plea on her behalf and scheduled a motion hearing for Feb. 6.
Ziehli's attorney Robert Duxstad has filed a motion to dismiss one count on the basis of statute of limitations, and motioned to delay preliminary examination upon production of required records.
Duxstad motioned for a change of venue and to prohibit the prosecution and law enforcement witnesses from making pretrial statements. He also demanded the District Attorney Gary Luhman and members of law enforcement retract their pretrial statements claiming Ziehli allegedly took more than $850,000, citing her constitutional protection of innocence until proven guilty.
The penalty for her alleged six counts of theft could add up to $150,000 in fines and up to 60 years in prison, or both.
Luhman recommended a $10,000 signature bond for each G Felony count, accruing to $60,000, and conditions that Ziehli have no contact with New Glarus Home or its campus, not leave Wisconsin without court permission and report to the Green County Sheriff's office for final booking. Judge Beer inserted the additional condition that Ziehli's passport be turned in. The district attorney said he did not consider her to be a flight risk.
Ziehli is due to return to court Thursday, Feb. 6 for a motion hearing as well as a preliminary hearing.