Former Oxford Village Deputy Clerk Marion Patricia Paad’s embezzlement trial began Monday before Judge Michael Warren in Oakland County Circuit Court.
Paad is accused of stealing village residents? property tax payments and police department funds.
She’s facing five counts of embezzlement by a public official over $50. Each of the five counts is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
After remaining silent about what she knew for four years, village Councilwoman Maureen Helmuth, in 2011, revealed that Paad alleged stole more than $3,300 in property tax payments from three residents in 2006.
Helmuth, who was employed as the village’s deputy treasurer at the time, admitted to loaning Paad money from her own pocket to cover the missing tax funds in 2007 and not reporting the theft to village officials.
Helmuth claimed Paad told her she took the tax money to make mortgage payments because she was in danger of losing her home.
During the course of the Michigan State Police’s investigation, it was discovered that Paad allegedly stole almost $600 in police dept. funds in 2010.