Box Butte County District Court Judge Brian Silverman has dismissed charges filed against a rural Gering woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the Nebraska Potato Certification Association based in Alliance.

41-year-old Teresa Clark had been charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing over $50,000 from the Association while working as an employee. Judge Silverman ruled that the December 16th, 2008 complaint did not meet the statutory three year requirement for filing of charges based on acts that took place prior to December 16, 2005.

Clark allegedly received cash advances in salary and transferred the amount into the Association’s general accounts receivable. Silverman said those acts were "unique and Clark's attorney Kristen Mickey said the records also revealed payments were made by the defendant on the debt.

Silverman concluded that there was no deception or a theft and that charges should be dismissed.