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Former Starke County jail matron pleads guilty to theft charges

A former Starke County Sheriff's Department employee is pleading guilty to federal wire fraud. 

Court documents state Pamela McDonald was accused of stealing more than $20,000 from the Starke County Jail’s commissary fund while she was working as a jail matron. McDonald was responsible for managing commissary funds, which are set aside for inmate-related expenses and other official county business.

McDonald admitted in court to making at least 19 unauthorized withdrawals from commissary funds and making transfers into her personal bank account between August 2022 and May 2023. 

As part of the plea agreement McDonald admitted to the thefts. Sentencing will be later this month.

McDonald is facing up to twenty years in prison.