By Jodi Hausen,Staff Writer

FARMINGTON – A former Industry town clerk and treasurer pleaded guilty Wednesday in District Court to stealing $25,000 from the town.

Cathy Frazier was issued a summons for misdemeanor theft charges in March, after she had repaid the stolen funds, said Franklin County Detective Thomas White at the time of her summons. Frazier was discovered by Selectman Lee Ireland with the town books on Dec. 14, 2004, on a day she had not been scheduled to work. For years she had been taking money from weekly cash bank deposits to pay personal bills, White said in March.

Frazier resigned her position on Jan. 1.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson told presiding Judge John McElwee that Frazier, an elected official, had embezzled large sums of money but because she was remorseful and cooperated with the town, investigators and prosecuting attorneys, he suggested a light sentence. She obtained a loan to repay the stolen cash and had promised to make restitution for the cost of an audit of the town’s books, he said. Also, she had no prior record.

Robinson recommended a sentence of 180 days in jail with all time suspended, one year probation and payment of $3,000 restitution for the audit, to be paid within 11 months.

She sat down with auditors and the town and was helpful, agreed her attorney Kevin Joyce. She had taken it upon herself to repay the stolen amount, he added.

Current town officials are aware of the plea agreement, Robinson told the judge. No representatives of the town spoke at the hearing.

Frazier stood quietly at the podium, showing little emotion. When McElwee asked about her personal situation, she replied in a barely audible broken voice. She told the judge she is currently employed as a hairstylist.

McElwee agreed that Robinson’s recommended sentence was appropriate, though with some reservations, he said, because Frazier was a public official at the time of the theft. Because of her cooperation, remorse and having no prior record, the judge agreed to the assistant district attorney’s suggested sentence, adding a $25 monthly fee for the duration of her probation.

“I’m sorry about what I did,” said Frazier, sitting outside the courtroom Wednesday after the hearing. “There’s nothing I can do about it. I made a mistake.”