Over 282 fraudulent checks, over $700,000 of village money unaccounted for.

Monday, at the Stanton County courthouse, a 12-year saga of alleged threats, undisclosed payments, and general confusion came to a definitive end.

“I’ve read a lot of information about all of this, all the reports and everything,” said Judge James Kube, addressing the defendant prior to her sentencing.

“I don’t get it.”

Kim Neiman, the former clerk for the Village of Pilger, previously faced 17 counts of unlawful taking, abuse of public records, and misconduct before a plea agreement reduced the case to a single charge of attempted theft.

“Addresses the money was sent to, almost all them that we checked out were simply storefronts that would forward mail," said Attorney Bert Lammli, representing the state.

"And it wasn't until the tornado hit and FEMA money started coming in that the amounts ramped up, and significantly."

Neiman said she made the payments in response to threats from a collection agency made against the village, herself, and her family.

Attorneys representing Neiman argued that there was no evidence she profited from the missing funds,

“It's not the type of case I've ever encountered before," said Attorney Sean Brennan representing Neiman, "I'd be surprised if any of us encountered a case like this before,"

“Information before the court for purposes of sentencing recognizes she is not a violent person, she has no history of aggressive behavior, she does not represent a risk to public safety."

Before the sentencing, Judge Kube took the initiative to speak with the defendant one last time.

"I admit I did things that were wrong," said Kim Neiman, "But I guess I got to a point where I didn't know how to stop it and I was hoping somebody else would find it."

"Did you bring it to their attention, to anybody, to say 'this is a problem, I don't know what to do, can you help me with this?'" Kube asked.

"No, sir. I didn't," Neiman said.

“The bills were paid to ‘Gavin Avento.’ Personally. Why did you do that? To pay to an individual when the company is asking for payment?" Kube asked.

“I can’t remember all the invoices I’ve seen," Neiman said.

Kube said curious circumstances and unanswered questions are what lead to his determination between probation or incarceration.

“Brennan talked about you are not a risk to public safety,” Kube said. “I would disagree with that.”

“You may not be a violent person. You may not have any prior criminal history. But you did some damage to the public here."

“It will be the judgment of this court that on conviction of attempted theft, a class 3A felony, that you be sentenced to a determinant term of 3 years at the department of correctional services," Kube said.

As part of her sentence, Neiman was also ordered to repay just over $44,000 in restitution to the village of Pilger and Pilger fire department.