A Doniphan woman accused of embezzling from the Grand Island Community Foundation has pleaded guilty to reduced charges.
Lisa Katzberg, 46, made her plea Thursday in Hall County Court after reaching a deal with prosecutors. Katzberg's attorney, Kent Rauert, says the charge was reduced to a lesser felony in exchange for her plea.
Katzberg was originally charged with a single felony count of theft over $1,500
in October of 2012 for stealing from the Grand Island Community
Foundation, an organization she worked for.
Prosecutors say
that Katzberg embezzled thousands of dollars between June 1, 2009, and
June 15, 2012. Authorities say an auditing firm found a bank account
that Katzberg is alleged to have opened using foundation money to pay
for private expenses.
Foundation board chairwoman Lynn Cronk has said Katzberg resigned on June 15 and has repaid the foundation more than $27,000.
Katzberg started working with the foundation, which is an umbrella
organization that handles money from a variety of donors who wish to
help the community, in May 2001.
Sentencing has been scheduled for April 24.
