Ex-Otoe County clerk makes plea

A former deputy clerk of the Otoe County District Court pleaded no contest Friday to one count of felony theft in connection with an embezzlement investigation.

An investigation by the Nebraska Attorney General's Office accused former Nebraska City resident Teresa White, 43, of taking over $28,000 in county funds between February 2007 and January 2009.

White had been living in Oklahoma after being fired on Jan. 22. She was arrested in April.

White is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 21 by Sarpy County District Court Judge David Arterburn. A conviction on the felony theft charge carries a penalty of one to 20 years in prison.

The case was moved to Sarpy County to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

White's arrest came after an audit conducted by State Auditor Mike Foley's staff. That audit discovered a serious shortage of funds in the Otoe County District Court's account.

The account shortage resulted from cash receipts not being deposited over the past two years. White was responsible for the deposits.

During the Nebraska State Patrol's investigation of the shortage, White admitted having taken the money, telling investigators that she had a lot of credit card bills and college expenses.