A five-day jury trial for Crystal Jo Collier, the former director of the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau, has been put on hold. The trial had been scheduled to start on Monday.

Assistant County Attorney Douglas Matthews said his office and Collier’s defense attorney, Dennis Keenan, are in plea negotiations. He said they are attempting to reach a settlement.

Collier is charged with one count of theft by deception and one count of making a false information. Both charges stem from allegations that she illegally obtained money in connection with her position at the CVB prior to her retirement at the end of 2015.

She entered not guilty pleas to the charges at her May 30 arraignment. District Judge Scott McPherson is presiding over the case.

Conviction on each felony count could result in prison time or probation, and a fine of up to $100,000.

More than 20 potential witnesses were sent subpoenas to appear in court Monday but last week one witness contacted the Great Bend Tribune after receiving notice not to appear.

Background

Collier retired in December 2015 after 30 years of working at the CVB.

A month after her retirement, the City of Great Bend took over management of the visitors bureau and city officials asked the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to probe the records for any improprieties.

“As the result of discrepancies noted in reimbursements for expenses paid to her by the CVB, almost $35,000 could not be accounted for during an examination of her credit card transactions against other documents,” according to a news release issued by the county attorney’s office after the preliminary hearing. “Along with the unexplained credit card charges, the investigation showed that records were falsified to show a payment for a business expense when the monies actually went elsewhere.”