Plea reached in embezzlement case

SANDPOINT — A plea agreement has been negotiated in the case of a former Bonner County employee accused of embezzling funds from the University of Idaho extension office.

Under the proposed terms of the agreement, Kristan Char Peacock would plead guilty to grand theft and pay $35,395 in restitution. The agreement recommends a suspended prison term and up to six months in jail with work release. Other terms, including the length of Peacock’s probation, would be left open to argument, according to court documents.

The plea agreement was announced on Wednesday during Peacock’s preliminary hearing, a proceeding she waived. Judge Barbara Buchanan accepted Peacock’s waiver and bound the case over to 1st District Court for further proceedings.

Peacock, 42, of Laclede, is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 18, 2011. She is free on her own recognizance while the case is pending.

Peacock’s Sandpoint attorney, Bryce Powell, has declined to comment on the case.

Peacock embezzled money from the office from 2004 to 2009, according to charging papers.

The thefts came to light when the extension office’s chairman and educator became aware of bookkeeping irregularities.

Peacock, the office’s former manager, allegedly wrote checks to herself and checks to pay off unauthorized lines of credit and bank overdraft fees, Sandpoint Police reports said.

Although she worked in the university’s extension office, her $34,900 salary was funded by Bonner County.