Former payroll clerk for Nicollet schools accused of overpaying herself $32k
Accused of overpaying herself more than $32k at Nicollet Public School
NICOLLET — A 57-year-old Winthrop woman who formerly did payroll work at Nicollet Public School faces eight felony charges for allegedly overpaying herself $32,462.49 from January 2021 to May 2023.
One felony count of embezzlement of public funds and seven counts of felony theft were filed Feb. 2 in Nicollet County District Court against Lisa Cheryl Bode, 57, of Winthrop.
According to court documents, the Nicollet Public School superintendent contacted Nicollet County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jared Thelemann June 16, 2023. The superintendent said an employee, Bode, was believed to have stolen money from the school by claiming to have worked more hours than she actually worked, and was terminated June 6.
Nicollet County Sheriff’s Investigators Marc Chadderdon and Darrin Isaacson met with the superintendent June 28 and learned the school used time cards and a computer system for its payroll. The superintendent said most employees filled out time cards and submitted them to their supervisor, but that Bode entered her own time into the computer system.
While calculating Bode’s last paycheck, several major discrepancies were found, the superintendent said.
The superintendent told investigators a State audit showed Bode overpaid herself a substantial sum including pay coded to show in addition to her normal hourly rate, she worked as a substitute teacher, but she was not licensed as a substitute teacher and never acted as a substitute teacher at the school.
The audit also showed Bode claimed and was paid overtime hours that were never approved by the superintendent, which was required by school policy. The audit also showed Bode overpaid herself $20,698.82 in regular pay and $11,763.67 in overtime pay.
The superintendent told Investigator Chadderdon that Bode had payroll system problems, so the school arranged for another staff member to help her, but Bode resisted working with staff member and was uncooperative with allowing the staff member to be involved with the payroll process.
A remote Zoom court hearing was set for 8:15 a.m., March 19.
