Even being accused of a crime can potentially affect a person’s career prospects, both in the present and the future. In Iowa, a man facing felony charges has already lost his job. Now, depending on the outcome of his June trial, the stakes for his future are even higher than just finding a new job.
The former assistant jail administrator is facing charges of felony theft and misconduct in office. After working for the last 15 years in his position, he was fired in March 2016. Allegedly, he was let go on accusations of not depositing inmates’ fees for room and board.
A state audit from the previous year supposedly showed that over $82,000 had gone missing from the accounts for the sheriff’s office jail. Apparently, this led to accusations being leveled at the former assistant jail administrator, although further details of the investigation were not immediately available. The defendant recently pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him.
It is difficult to predict what direction the man’s defense strategies might take in court, but the law presumes that he and any other individuals facing criminal charges is innocent until and unless found guilty in a court of law. Anyone in Iowa who is similarly accused of a felony or other crimes may be feeling scared and uncertain, angry or confused. In cases like these, an experienced criminal defense attorney can work with the accused to explain the various options available and to work toward the best possible outcome, whether that means negotiating a plea agreement in return for a reduced sentence or preparing for trial.
Source: wqad.com, “Former Iowa jail administrator pleads not guilty to theft“, May 4, 2017