Former DMV clerk gets probation for skimming fees

A Las Vegas woman who pleaded guilty to skimming money from vehicle registrations she handled at a Las Vegas-area DMV office was sentenced Monday to four years of probation.

Lauren Jimerson originally was charged with more than 30 felonies. In January, she struck a deal with state prosecutors and agreed to plead guilty to one count each of unlawful use of public money and misappropriation and falsification of accounts by a public officer, both felonies.

The former Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles clerk resigned and disappeared after investigators questioned her in May 2008 about transactions she handled from June 2007 to March 2008. Jimerson was arrested in October 2009.

Authorities said the 26-year-old changed vehicle registration records and swiped almost $8,700 while working at the Decatur Boulevard DMV office.

DMV officials said Jimerson would give customers a computer printout of the proper registration fees as a receipt, collect the amount of money owed and then alter the computer record so the system would charge a lesser amount while she pocketed the remaining cash.

Defense attorney Andrew Leavitt said his client has paid back about $1,600 she owes in restitution. Jimerson, a single mother with two children, is working as a hairdresser to pay off the remaining amount of money, Leavitt said.

He said his client made a "horrible mistake and won't do it again." He said she did it to help her ailing mother .