Former Mall Employee Faces Theft Charges

A former employee of the Northbridge Mall in Albert Lea is facing felony theft charges in the Freeborn County District Court.

Beth Staser, of Clarks Grove, allegedly made more than $11,000 dollars in fraudulent transactions using the mall's merchant association account.

Staser has pleaded not guilty to the charges she's facing.

"We filed a criminal complaint against her alleging two counts of, well in the first place, felony theft and secondly a diversion of corporate property," said Assistant Freeborn County Attorney David Walker.

Staser worked as the mall's promotion manager starting in July of 2009.

She did not have an expense account with the mall and was expected to provide her own funds for job related needs.

"So the allegation in the police reports is that she was using money that actually belonged to the mall merchants association and she was diverting the money or the use of a credit or debit card to her own personal use," said Walker.

Some of the unauthorized purchases Staser allegedly made include tvs, cameras and a vaccuum cleaner.

The allegations were first reported to police in January of 2010 by the mall's property manager.

Each of the charges Staser is facing carry a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $20,000 thousand dollar fine.

A trial date has not been set.