Local woman faces more than 60 felonies

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - A Dexter woman, charged with forgery and stealing felonies earlier in December, is now facing more than 60 felonies.

Kathy Ellsworth, 48, of Dexter, is accused of forging what is currently believed to be a total of 41 checks totaling more than $315,000. Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver declined to comment on the case when asked whether this was believed to be the final amount.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed in a Stoddard County courtroom by Sheriff's Deputy Hank Trout, the alleged money was taken during a period from Dec. 10, 2009 and Nov. 14, 2011.

The report states that Ellsworth, employed as a bookeeper by the victim, allegedly forged the victim's signature on business checks. Trout went on to state in the affidavit that all of the checks Ellsworth wrote on the account were made payable to her husband. She allegedly forged her husband's name on the checks to deposit them into her bank account. The checks ranged from $1,383 to $9,846 each.

There is no indication in the filed reports that Ellsworth's husband was aware of what had transpired.

In accordance with Daily Statesman policy, the victim in the case has not been named in this report.

Ellsworth is currently being held in the Stoddard County Jail in lieu of a $130,000 cash-only bond.