Convicted: Former Milwaukee County cashier to serve probation in theft case

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A former Milwaukee County cashier charged with theft has been sentenced to probation in the case against him.

Damond Watts

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke directed his detectives to conduct an investigation into monies missing from a county cashier's drawer in December of 2013, and sought charges against the employee who admitted being responsible for the thefts: 39-year-old Damond Watts of Milwaukee.

Watts resigned during the theft investigation.

Initially, the District Attorney's Office did not issue a criminal charge and recommended the case be handled as a deferred prosecution.

According to the Sheriff's Office, media coverage of the lack of prosecution resulted in the District Attorney's Office reconsidering the case.

Watts was initially charged with misconduct in office/acting with excess authority -- but the charge against him was amended to two misdemeanor counts of theft in a business setting -- less than $2,500.

On Monday, June 30th, Watts pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

He was sentenced to nine months in the House of Correction -- to be served concurrently for each charge.

That sentence was stayed, and Watts was ordered to serve 12 months of probation -- to be served concurrently for each charge.

Watts has been ordered to have no new law violations, and he must perform 50 hours of community service and pay $900 in restitution to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office.