Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Former Athol city clerk admits stealing city’s money

The former city clerk of Athol, Idaho, pleaded guilty Wednesday to writing 227 checks to herself and her husband from a city bank account totaling more than $417,000. Sally R. Hansen, 39, faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the 15 counts of wire fraud she pleaded guilty to Wednesday. Investigators from the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Secret Service discovered the embezzlement, alleged to have occurred shortly after Hansen was hired in 2009 through 2014. In total, prosecutors say Hansen took $417,879 from the city by depositing taxpayer funds into her personal bank account. Hansen wrote off the losses as paycheck payments, according to court records, and signed the mayor’s name to some of the checks. The case went federal because wire transfers were routed through other states. Hansen is scheduled to be sentenced in May. As part of a plea agreement, she will have to pay the full amount back to the City of Athol.