Listman Could Pay Science Station $313,000

By Josh Hinkle, Anchor/Reporter

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By Josh Hinkle

Story Created: Mar 21, 2008 at 3:15 PM CST

Story Updated: Mar 21, 2008 at 3:15 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - A jury already found her guilty of theft at the Science Station. Now Nancy Listman might have to pay back $313,000.

The 55-year-old Watkins woman was once the Science Station's bookkeeper. She finally went back to court on Friday, after a judge previously canceled her restitution hearing six times since her conviction.

When police arrested Listman, she told them she stole from the Science Station. Now, she maintains her innocence, never meant that statement, and actually has no idea where the money went.

Listman said police told her, if she didn't cooperate with a confession, the man she lived with could go to jail and her son could go into foster care. A jury eventually convicted Listman of first-degree theft.

Now, it's up to Judge Nancy Baumgartner to decide how much Listman must pay back. Friday's three-hour hearing had current and former employees, including Listman herself, going over a paper trail with several loose ends and disorganization.

The judge says she's not sure how she will determine what amount is appropriate as restitution.

Baumgartner says, "A lot of that paperwork was prepared by people who were not accountants and I just want to know if you're expecting me to do the forensic accounting in this case that was never done accurately, because I don't intend to do it."

Attorneys for both sides say, no matter the amount, it will take Listman years to pay it back. They agree that finding a job with this kind of crime on her record will be extremely difficult.

Listman had already been sentenced to a 10-year suspended prison sentence and five years of probation.

Email Josh Hinkle at Josh.Hinkle@kcrg.com

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