Jefferson City woman indicted by grand jury

The Cole County Grand Jury has indicted a Jefferson City woman charged with stealing money from the Jefferson City Public Schools.

Susan Kerrigan, 59, of 2206 Tower Drive, is charged with two counts of stealing.

The indictment indicates the grand jury found there was enough evidence to send the case onto the circuit courts for possible trial.

Court documents show the stealing occurred in October 2013.

Kerrigan was working as a secretary at Nichols Career Center at the time.

School officials said she was terminated from that position in February of this year.

A Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement shows Kerrigan took the money from a school fund and used it for personal reasons.

She then wrote checks from another private organization, Beta Sigma Phi, to cover the theft.

The theft was eventually discovered by school district officials and officials with Beta Sigma Phi, for whom Kerrigan volunteered.

When questioned by authorities, Kerrigan admitted to taking the money.

She said she wrote five checks between Oct. 23 and Nov. 21, 2013, from Beta Sigma Phi to the public schools.

The amount taken was not mentioned in the court documents, although the stealing count shows at least $500 was taken.

Also indicted was a Jefferson City resident charged after a MUSTANG Drug Task Force investigation in May.

Officers served a search warrant in the 500 block of East McCarty Street and during the investigation, detectives seized suspected heroin, marijuana, two stolen handguns, ammunition and a digital scale.

As a result of the search warrant, Lakeisha A. Collins, 42, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of receiving stolen property and possession of heroin.

Collins is a convicted felon with convictions for unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance in January 2002.

Authorities said Collins is a known heroin distributor in the Jefferson City area.

Also indicted was a pharmacy technician at a Jefferson City grocery store charged with stealing controlled substances and then trading them for marijuana or selling them to others.

Alexander Oppenheim, 23, 1821 Sherrick Court, is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and stealing a controlled substance.

A Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement shows an internal investigation by officials at Gerbes on West Truman Boulevard started in August 2013.

Oppenheim was believed to have stolen more than $2,800 worth of hydrocodone and alprazolam.

When questioned, Oppenheim admitted to taking alprazolam to self-medicate himself for depression. He said he took the hydrocodone and sold it or traded it for marijuana.

A search of Oppenheim's residence turned up several items of drug paraphernalia along with alprazolam and hydrocodone.

A small safe was also found, with approximately $6,000 in cash inside.