Sentencing Scheduled for former Custer County Sheriff’s Office Employee

CUSTER COUNTY—Callaway woman Kelli Estergard appeared in District Court on Thursday morning for arraignment. A plea agreement has been reached in the case where she has been charged with theft by unlawful taking from the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, where she was employed for 33 years.

Estergard, 58, is represented by Chris Wickham and the state is represented by Special Deputy Custer County Attorney Ryan Swaroff with the State of Nebraska.

As part of the plea agreement, the charge has been amended to theft by unlawful taking between $1,500 and $5,000, a class IV felony. The charge of tampering with physical evidence has been dropped. With a class IV felony, Estergard could face a maximum two-year imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both, plus post-release supervision.

During Thursday’s arraignment, Special Deputy Custer County Attorney Swaroff said Estergard has agreed to pay restitution and has already done so, according to Swaroff.

Swaroff also read that during an audit of the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, it was found that Estergard allegedly stole money 59 times from different sources including inmate bonds, prisoner boarding funds, and inmate work release money between September 2015 and January 2018.

Estergard pled guilty and was found guilty by Judge Karin Noakes. Sentencing is scheduled for August 23 at 10:30 a.m.

Click here to view the June 11 story.

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