A former finance assistant in Spencer has pleaded guilty to first degree theft and a judge has ordered her to repay the city tens of thousands of dollars in restitution.
53-year-old Lavonne Bell was given a 10-year suspended prison sentence on the conditions that she successfully completes a probation period of up to three years and financial counseling classes. She will have to spend 30-days in the Clay County Jail, during which time she will be able to participate in a work-release program. She has also ordered to pay over $100,000 in restitution to the city.
Bell was fired in June of 2024 after city officials discovered discrepancies in landfill revenue, payroll entries, and credit card transactions. The city requested a special investigation by the State Auditor’s Office, which identified the extent of missing funds.
City leaders say they have implemented changes that address the weaknesses in oversight that auditors identified.
