Former Goshen County Clerk of District Court Kathi Rickard will spend at least the next three years in prison for stealing over $100,000 during her time as an elected official. 

Rickard was sentenced to three-to-six years in the Wyoming prison system by Judge F. Scott Peasely on Thursday afternoon. Rickard will also have to pay back $125,400.  In a statement to the court, Rickard tearfully apologized to the people of Goshen County as well as her former coworkers. 

The first thing I would like to do is apologize to Goshen County and all of my family, colleagues  and friends,” Rickard said. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt anyone. This was the biggest mistake of my life and I never meant to hurt anyone.”

Her attorney, Cole Sherrard, read parts of 15 letters supporting Rickard and updated the court on Rickard’s health condition to lobby for probation. 

“She has been a prominent person, and she has been an amazing clerk for so many reasons,” Sherrard said. “She made a really costly error. That shouldn’t diminish the good things she's done. She has been a public servant. It’s important to keep in mind that she has been active in community events and she cant apologize more for these actions.”

The sentence was pursuant to a plea agreement. In the agreement, Rickard agreed to pay the county $125,000 in restitution for her crimes. Had she paid the full amount, she could have been subject to a lesser sentence. Rickard was able to provide the county with $13,000, well short of the full restitution amount. 

Prosecutor Spencer Allred told the court that the amount of money she took from the county coffers has had a significant impact on Goshen County. 

“Mrs. Rickard was given the trust of the people as an elected official,” Allred said. “She violated that trust over a four-year span. It started small, taking cash payment over the counter - payments for bond, child support. It was the people's money. She was given that trust by people of Goshen County.”

Peasely said Rickard is unlikely to reoffend and doesn’t pose a threat to the community, but imposed the prison sentence because of the violation of that trust. 

“You were in a position of trust,” Peasely said. “You were elected, and that carries heightened responsibility to those you serve. Over several years, you violated that trust. You cast a dark cloud over the office you served and your employees, who are now tasked with gaining back trust of the citizens. 

“The people of Goshen County deserve better.”