Former Dierks City Clerk appears in Howard County Circuit Court this week

Former Dierks City Clerk Cheryl Delarosa appeared in the Howard County Circuit Court on Wednesday. 
Delarosa was granted a continuance until November 9.
Delarosa is charged with six felony Theft of Property counts and six other counts of Abusing the Public Trust, which is also a felony. Delarosa was arrested in 2021, following a state police investigation into missing city funds of more than $501,000 dollars. Delarosa was employed as the Dierks City Secretary and Water Clerk at the time. Investigators determined the money was missing during a period of January 2015 through September 2020.
In other court news, Waylon Murphy plead guilty to theft of property and was sentenced to 6 years’ probation. He also received a $750 fine plus court costs, dna test and $1,900 in restitution. 
Bethany Sigman plead guilty to possession of controlled substance, meth-cocaine and was sentenced to 5 years’ probation and received credit for jail time served.
Dennis Forte entered a plea of no contest on the charges of theft by receiving a firearm, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to 6 years suspended.