Ex-official pleads guilty to theft

The former treasurer of the Westside School District in Johnson County faces two years in prison and a restitution order of nearly $180,000 after she pleaded guilty in circuit court on Thursday to theft of school money.

Brandi Freeman, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of theft and will be sentenced Aug. 9 to two years in prison, Prosecutor David Gibbons said. The possible prison sentence for the Class B felony ranges from five to 20 years.

He said the delay in sentencing will give Freeman time to put her affairs in order before going to prison.

Freeman will serve her prison sentence in a regional lockup for people convicted of property crimes, Gibbons said.

Also, Circuit Judge William Pearson will suspend the imposition of further prison time for 18 years, Gibbons said. Freeman will be ordered to pay $179,391 in restitution to the school district or to the district’s bonding company. She will be ordered to pay $1,500 in fines and court costs, Gibbons said.

The Westside School District includes Hartman and Coal Hill in western Johnson County.

Freeman was charged Aug. 25 of last year with five counts of felony theft for crimes committed between May 1, 2013, and March 21, 2017. Two counts were thefts of greater than $25,000 and three counts were thefts of between $5,000 and $25,000.