Jasper County employee accused of embezzling $17,000 pleads guilty – Newton Daily News

The former Jasper County employee accused of embezzling more than $17,000 pleaded guilty Oct. 7 to first-degree theft and forgery, both felony charges. Shelby Hobbs, 31, of Newton, is scheduled to appear for her sentencing hearing Nov. 25 at the Jasper County Courthouse.

According to criminal complaints obtained by Newton News, Hobbs wrote himself 42 checks in 11 months. The checks were either cashed or deposited into his personal checking account. Authorities say bank records from the county zoning department and Hobbs were compared to confirm.

Hobbs admitted to engaging in this conduct, according to authorities.

Other criminal complaints against Hobbs claim she used the Jasper County Community Development checkbook and signed the checks in the name of her supervisor — Community Development Director Kevin Luetters — without his knowledge or permission.

Jasper County law enforcement affidavits allege Hobbs wrote checks to herself two to six times a month from August 2023 to June 2024. The individual checks ranged between $95.42 and $820. In a single month, the checks totaled between $680 and more than $2,417.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said in a July 10 news release that the county attorney’s office requested law enforcement on June 26 to conduct a criminal investigation into a county employee suspected of misused county funds. Investigators found $17,458.41 was used for unauthorized expenses.

Hobbs was arrested following the investigation and charged with first degree theft (class C felony) and 11 counts of forgery (class D felony).

When Hobbs’ accusations were first reported in July, Jasper County posted a Facebook post claiming the $17,458.41 allegedly stolen was not county property taxes, but rather permit fees. County officials then met and changed policies and procedures to ensure these incidents did not happen again.

Jasper County Prosecutor Scott Nicholson said, “At sentencing, I’m going to go before the court and ask to order him to pay this amount of money as a term of his probation.” From now on, it will be up to the court to decide whether the court will adjourn its judgment or convict her. But I guess the judge is going to convict her of something.