Kansas Statehouse payroll worker has history of theft charges – Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — An worker in control of payroll on the Kansas Statehouse just lately agreed to a felony plea deal after stealing greater than $40,000 from worker well being financial savings accounts whereas working as a bookkeeper for Soldier Township.

Pamela Buckhalter additionally confronted a felony theft cost in 2008 after she was accused of stealing greater than $13,000 from Topeka Excessive College whereas working as a cheerleading coach and secretary with bookkeeping duties. That cost was dropped when she agreed to pay again the lacking funds.

Buckhalter, 53, now works in payroll for Legislative Administrative Providers. The division’s director, Tom Day, didn’t reply to questions despatched by electronic mail Tuesday about when Buckhalter was employed, if different candidates have been thought of for the place, whether or not he knew in regards to the prison expenses earlier than she was employed and what monetary controls are in place to forestall theft.

Kansas Reflector independently obtained court docket paperwork after studying in regards to the expenses from a person who didn’t establish themselves. The person stated they mailed to Republican and Democratic management on Tuesday copies of court docket information and previous information tales about Buckhalter.

A spokeswoman for Senate Minority Chief Dinah Sykes stated her workplace discovered about expenses in opposition to Buckhalter in Could 2021 and alerted Senate President Ty Masterson’s employees.

“The fees increase issues about Pam’s function in administering payroll, which is why Sen. Sykes directed our workplace to share the data we discovered on-line with the Senate president’s employees,” stated Helena Buchmann, the spokeswoman for Sykes, in an electronic mail to Kansas Reflector.

Buchmann stated the workplace isn’t conscious of any issues with Buckhalter’s efficiency in her present place.

Mike Pirner, spokesman for Masterson, stated the Senate president discovered in regards to the expenses on Tuesday when Kansas Reflector requested about them. Pirner directed inquiries to Day.

“As a result of it is a personnel matter, it’s inappropriate for our workplace to remark,” Pirner stated.

Employees for Republican and Democratic management within the Home didn’t reply questions despatched by electronic mail Tuesday.

Buckhalter’s legal professional, Kevin Jones, stated Wednesday morning he would wish not less than 24 hours to answer a request for remark.

Shawnee County District Courtroom information present Buckhalter was charged in July 2020 with 5 felony thefts, felony forgery, felony illegal use of computer systems and two misdemeanor thefts for crimes Buckhalter was accused of committing from 2015 to 2017 whereas working at Soldier Township, which is simply north of Topeka.

District Legal professional Mike Kagay stated the fees have been in relation to a collection of thefts from the well being financial savings accounts of Soldier Township staff, WIBW-TV reported when the fees have been filed.

Buckhalter entered a plea deal on April 20 through which she agreed to not contest amended expenses of felony tried forgery and misdemeanor theft. The remainder of the fees have been dropped.

As a part of the deal, she has to pay again $42,850.47 in restitution and pay a $500 positive. Sentencing is scheduled for June 24.

The sooner case was settled in 2009, when Buckhalter agreed to pay again $13,755 and by no means settle for or apply for employment with the Topeka faculty district, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported.

College officers initially reported $20,000 was lacking from the actions fund, however some information have been broken by water, the newspaper reported. Buckhalter had resigned because the cheerleading coach following a suspension in 2006.