Previous Washington County Collector Initially Pleads Not Guilty of Stealing County Funds

(Potosi) The previous collector for Washington County, who is facing numerous criminal charges for allegedly stealing funds from the county, had her initial arraignment in court last week.

Carla Zettler pleads not guilty to all charges and up next is a June 5th day in court for a motion hearing.

Zettler faces three money laundering felonies, at least three stealing felonies and a misdemeanor charge for official misconduct.

Investigators say Zettler stole cash fees that her office received from trustee property sales.

Three others who still work or had previously worked in the collector’s office for Zettler were also arrested on similar charges.

Zettler actually continued working in the Washington County Collector’s office until the Washington County Circuit Court banned her from the office in late January.

The 50-year-old Mineral Point woman was actually arrested one other time after her first arrest which happened last summer.

That second arrest added another stealing felony to her list of charges.

Kris Richards is now the Washington County Collector after he was voted in last November.