Woman pleads not guilty to embezzlement

By GAZETTE STAFF Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008

ELKHORN — A Delavan woman accused of embezzling $800,000 from a home-building company pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two felony charges of business theft and 30 misdemeanor charges of forgery.

Kari Sue Clark-Branton, 39, was responsible for accounts payable and receivable at Home Design Manufacturing in Walworth Township from 1992 to 2008, according to the criminal complaint.

Company owner Fred P. Sjoberg III told police in March his accountant reviewed his business records back to 2003 and found more than $800,000 missing, according to the complaint.

The accountant found about $498,500 in checks were written to Clark-Branton from 2001 to 2008 and about $413,500 in checks were written to a horse business owned by Joanne Anderson, who left the company after being accused of making unauthorized charges on the company’s credit card, according to the complaint.

Clark-Branton told police she wanted her friend to realize her lifelong dream of showing horses, according to the complaint. She also told police she overpaid herself in paychecks and bonuses.

Clark-Branton remains free on a signature bond. She is scheduled to next appear in court Jan. 14.

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