Former Mansfield Collector Not Guilty of Stealing
By
KSPR News
Story Created:
Aug 25, 2008
Story Updated:
Aug 25, 2008
The former city collector of Mansfield is a free woman.
Brenda Keith's trial ended Monday (8-25) when the jury declared her not guilty.
Keith had been accused of stealing $25,000 from the city.
She was arrested in 2003 when a highway patrol investigation found $42,000 missing from the city.
This is a press release form the Missouri Highway Patrol issued at the time of her arrest:
Captain B.E. Chadwick, Commanding Officer of Troop G of the Missouri State Highway Patrol announces the following:
On Tuesday, November 26, 2003, Brenda J. Keith, 35, Mansfield, Missouri, was arrested on 7 counts of felony stealing in Wright County, Missouri.
The arrest followed an investigation conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control concerning Keith and her position as Mansfield City Collector. The investigation revealed an amount in excess of $42,000 taken from the city of Mansfield between September 2001 and September 2003.
Keith was arrested in Mansfield and transported to the Wright County Jail where she was processed and later released on bond.
The charges for which Keith is accused are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
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Sunday, Aug 31 at 10:04 PM Annette Adams wrote ...
What a sweet young woman Mrs Keith is, and she has a lot of integrity. It is a shame in this day and time some people have little. People use to be known by their word or a handshake. We see this as a sign of the times but we still need to fight against it. I pray you'll stand with Brenda for TRUTH.
Saturday, Aug 30 at 10:01 PM scott porta wrote ...
i have had the privilege of knowing the keith family since shortly after brendas arrest. i have found them kind hearted and willing to help anyone in need, anytime, regardless of circumstance. no one in this family has ever displayed the nature of thieves or liars at any time during our acquaintance. i dont believe any one of them would even steal their last meal. i am thankful and proud to call them my friends.
Thursday, Aug 28 at 1:04 PM pearl wrote ...
If anything good came out of this, it is that people are now realising who the smiling liar is, and it isnt Brenda...:)
Thursday, Aug 28 at 7:12 AM Jane Doe wrote ...
John doe sound suspiciously like the angry city clerk that purgered herself during her testimony Friday. Im sure she is furious that most people in town have firmly stood by Brenda while believing that the clerk and her (friends) worked hard at setting an innocent person up. Innocence that was proven after just 18 minutes
Thursday, Aug 28 at 2:11 AM John Doe wrote ...
I have lost all faith in the legal system. Not because I think Brenda Keith is innocent, but because she was clever enough to evade her guilt. A small town has successfully stood behind someone who is guilty. That guilty person smiled and took all the help she could get. All the while, knowing in her heart that she was in fact guilty. I hope she learns one day that she not only destroyed her family and reputation but that she has destroyed so much more.
Wednesday, Aug 27 at 12:05 PM pearl wrote ...
Some people used their position to have this done to Brenda because they didn't like her. BTW It was to clear everyone there that they perjured themselves in court, which they should be charged with. The whole thing was ridiculous, they had no proof, and it turns out no money was missing. I think the people who made her life hell for 5 years need to pay all the legal costs that they caused for the city, state, and brenda
Wednesday, Aug 27 at 12:14 AM Charles wrote ...
I know what it's like to be falsely accused, and in a small towns like Mansfield and Hartville there are some who love rumors and gossip, but there are still good people there who don't give up on thier friends and would stand by them even if they had made a mistake. Our prayers are with you Brenda and hope you can move past this with honor and courage. God bless you! Pastor Charles W. Stoker
Tuesday, Aug 26 at 10:43 PM C David wrote ...
There appears to be a trend in Wright County in prosecuting people for crimes who are in fact later determined to be innocent. Cases in point: Brenda Wright - not guilty. John Bruffett - not guilty. Larry Shepherd - not guilty. Someone should be watching the watchers.
Monday, Aug 25 at 9:30 PM Betsy wrote ...
Whatever happened to the Norwood city employee who was accused of stealing thousands from the city treasury? The last I heard, the prosecuter in Wright Co. refused to prosecute the case, citing conflict of interest, because the accused person was the wife of the Wright Co. Sheriff. Has there been any news in this case?
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