Former Moniteau County jail clerk charged with stealing from sheriff's department

Moniteau County Sheriff Tony Wheatley
Moniteau County Sheriff Tony Wheatley

A former Moniteau County Sheriff's Office clerk has been arrested on multiple theft charges.

Sheriff Tony Wheatley said Jessica Lamble, of Tipton, 30, was fired in November from his department where she had worked as a jail clerk the past two years.

"After she was fired, we conducted an internal audit of the inmate commissary funds which Lamble was responsible for and found discrepancies," Wheatley said in a press release Thursday morning. "Further investigation determined that funds had been entered into the system, but were not deposited into the corresponding accounts belonging to the sheriff's office."

Wheatley said he then contacted the Missouri Highway Patrol to assist in the investigation.

This month, the patrol interviewed Lamble and she confessed to the crime.

A large amount of cash and checks were recovered from her Tipton residence and turned back over to the sheriff's office.

According to court documents, a total of $13,876.34 was discovered missing from four separate transactions.

Lamble was seen in video surveillance footage withdrawing money, counting the money and placing it in a bank deposit money bag, taking it in an office and coming out of it with a large purse and no money bag.

Deputies said the total amount of cash, change and checks recovered from Lamble was $7,809.39.

This week, arrest warrants for Lamble were issued and she turned herself into authorities in Cole County.

Lamble is now charged with four counts of felony stealing and one count of tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution.

Wheatley said Lamble was able to post a $25,000 bond.