The trial of Ursala Stone, the former Addison Village Clerk accused of embezzling over $1.1 million, has been postponed to late March at the earliest. Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker announced the delay, citing the need for defense attorney John Stevens to thoroughly examine extensive discovery materials. The discovery comprises terabytes of data and thousands of pages, representing a decade and a half of Addison Village records.
Steuben County Court Judge Chauncey J. Watches granted the continuance, allowing Stevens additional time for case preparation. Baker mentioned that a plea offer involving a prolonged prison sentence was proposed to Stone in December, but she did not accept it. The complexity of the case, involving substantial village records, necessitates this additional preparation time.
Stone, 56, faces 192 charges, including first-degree grand larceny, money laundering, public corruption, and falsifying business records. The New York State Comptroller’s Office uncovered her alleged schemes, which significantly impacted the village’s fiscal health. Stone allegedly misappropriated funds through various methods, including unauthorized pay raises and converting village checks for personal use. If convicted, the Steuben County District Attorney’s Office seeks restitution for the unrecouped stolen funds.
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