Hemingford Schools Secretary Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement

Regional News

A Hemingford woman charged with five counts of theft for stealing money from five different Hemingford Public School funds has pleaded guilty to one felony count and will be sentenced June 25.

In a plea agreement, the state dropped four of the charges against 49-year-old Jane Kuhn, who took the money while employed as a school secretary between November, 2007 and April, 2008.

$4,548.24 was taken from the school's FFA account, while the remainder of the missing money is from the High School track fund, the Drama Club, the Senior Class graduation fund and the Senior Class cap and gown fund.

Kuhn made full restitution Wednesday morning, presenting a cashier’s check to the court in the amount of $7,143.63. Her attorney Russ Harford of Chadron stated that Kuhn cooperated fully with law enforcement. In exchange for her guilty plea, Box Butte County Attorney Kathleen Hutchinson has agreed not to oppose probation during sentencing.

Kuhn is scheduled to be sentenced by Scotts Bluff County District Court Judge Leo Dobrovolny, who is filing the bench temporarily vacated by ailing Judge Brian Silverman.