Hearings scheduled in embezzlement case

BOUNTIFUL — Pre-trial hearings are scheduled to begin Oct. 6 for a former city payroll administrator accused of embezzling more than $87,000 from the retirement and individual flex spending accounts of more than 100 city employees.

Bonnie Nelson Quinn, 45, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree felony theft charges filed earlier after independent auditors found discrepancies from the past six years totaling more than $70,000 in the retirement accounts and $17,000 in the flex accounts.

The city has internal controls and staffing to preclude such discrepancies, said Tom Hardy, Bountiful city manager, noting that the city's books are audited each year and CPAs supervise payroll activities.

The independent auditor's findings are not being made public at this time because they are evidence in a criminal case, said Bill McQuire, Davis County Chief Deputy Attorney.

However, one of the audit's recommendations — conducting a monthly review of each payroll department account — was implemented in April, Hardy said.