Miami-Dade court clerk staff accused of stealing income when on the job

MIAMI — A longtime Miami-Dade clerk of courts personnel has been billed after remaining accused of stealing income from people today shelling out court docket fines, officials reported Friday.

Scott Kessler, 57, who has worked for the Miami-Dade court docket clerk’s workplace for 11 many years, was utilized at the North Dade Justice Centre, in accordance to a composed statement by State Legal professional Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

He has been charged with just one depend of conspiracy to commit arranged plan to defraud, formal misconduct and grand theft, all third-diploma felony charges, in accordance to the statement. It was not immediately crystal clear if bond has been set in the case.

 “When authorities workers steal, they not only seize the public’s revenue, but they squander the public’s rely on in their local authorities,” Rundle reported. “These types of actions betray our neighborhood and can never ever be recognized or tolerated.”

The stolen revenue that officers say Kessler took was between $4,000 to $5,000.

Authorities reported Kessler’s career duties involved supporting offenders shelling out their targeted visitors fines or other court docket essential payments.

He was also tasked with aiding to established up payment programs for people today who owed income to the court docket, in accordance to the assertion.

Law enforcement authorities said they uncovered the plan just after five people who had paid out income to fulfill their site visitors fines started obtaining notices that they had not accomplished their payment prepare.

The grievances led to an undercover sting by law enforcement who submitted marked funds payments to Kessler, who was later arrested and uncovered with the marked charges.

“I am generally saddened to hear when anyone violates their position of belief and authority,” said Luis G. Montaldo, interim main courtroom clerk. “That is why, when I very first uncovered of the theft, I instructed Clerk staff members to make contact with and cooperate with the Condition Attorney’s Business and Miami-Dade Law enforcement Department’s investigation.”