Cass County circuit clerk resigns in settlement with attorney general

Amy Bell, who was suspended last August from her elected post as Cass County Circuit Clerk, resigned this week and withdrew her candidacy for another term.

In exchange, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster is dropping a civil ouster suit and a misdemeanor criminal case alleging she failed to perform her duties.

Koster alleged that Bell failed to pay the circuit court's bills on time, paid a close friend for courthouse work that was never completed and did not file required paperwork for an insurance claim regarding funds allegedly stolen by a deputy clerk.

Bell continues to deny the accusations. She will be paid through the end of the year.

| Bethany Bashioum, Special to The Star

This story was originally published July 3, 2014 at 8:16 PM with the headline "Cass County circuit clerk resigns in settlement with attorney general."