Warrant issued for missing ex-Mapleton official

PROVO — The former finance chief of Mapleton missed a scheduled appearance in 4th District Court on Thursday, and not even her family seems to know where she is.

Jeannie Bell, 48, was due to be arraigned on a charge of theft, a second-degree felony, for allegedly selling thousands of dollars worth of postage stamps and gift cards purchased with city funds. When she did not appear, Judge James Taylor issued a no-bail warrant for her arrest.

Bell's husband reported her missing Tuesday, according to Mapleton Police Chief Dean Pettersson. She left a note saying she would be gone for a few days "just to get away," Pettersson said, but did not indicate where she was going.

Asked what police were doing to try to locate her, Pettersson said he could not comment on an active investigation.

Bell's attorney, Douglas Baxter, said he had not spoken with her in a few weeks and had expected her to appear in court.

Prosecutors allege that Bell purchased stamps and gift cards for employee bonuses or gifts, but sold them on eBay instead of handing them out. City Administrator Bob Bradshaw said a forensic audit done by an outside company found irregularities going back "four or five years" and involving over $20,000.

He said measures have been put in place recently to more tightly control the use of city credit cards and the disbursement of gift cards and other bonuses.

Bell was hired in 2001 and was promoted to controller in 2002. She resigned that position in June after being confronted by city officials.

— Paul Koepp