City of Canton sues former city collector for stealing nearly $90,000 in water, sewer payments

CANTON, Mo. — A lawsuit filed by the city of Canton accuses former city collector and municipal court clerk LaTrisha Crist of stealing $89,668 in water and sewer payments.

The lawsuit was filed July 24 in Lewis County Circuit Court by Matthew Koehler, an attorney with Brown and James in St. Louis. It says Crist, 42, oversaw billing, accounting and receiving payments for water and sewer services provided by the city to its residents.

The lawsuit alleges between Aug. 1, 2014, and Jan. 31, 2020, Crist took possession of water and sewer payments that were supposed to be paid to the city. It alleges Crist:

• Purposefully failed to turn over to the city the water and/or sewer payments;
• Intentionally took payments that were made in cash and kept those payments for her own use and/or enjoyment; and
• Intentionally endorsed the City’s name on payments made by check and kept the money for her own use and/or enjoyment.  

The lawsuit claims Crist prepared accounting ledger sheets and deposit records that showed she had collected all of the water and sewer payments residents had made to the city and deposited the money into the city’s bank account.   

The city is requesting judgment against Crist for damages of $89,668.20, along with the taxable costs of the lawsuit, pre-judgment interest and post-judgment interest.

Crist was served the lawsuit in her Canton home last month. No hearings have been scheduled in the case.