OSBI: Davis woman who emptied daughter's trust fund turns self in

PAULS VALLEY, Okla. (KOKH) — A woman accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from her daughter's trust fund is behind bars.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says 51-year-old Sheryl Lynne Clark turned herself in to the Garvin County jail on Thursday morning.

OSBI says in Dec. 2016, the Garvin County Sheriff asked agents to investigate Clark for making fraudulent withdrawals from the trust account at the Pauls Valley National Bank.

The fund was set up for Clark's daughter based on money received from a Workers' Compensation Court award due to the death of her father. The daughter was to have access to the account when she turned 18.

Authorities say starting in March 2014, Sheryl Clark made eight withdrawals from the account.

Two of the withdrawals were approved by a court judge for "welfare and maintenance" of the girl. However, authorities say the other six were performed by forging the judge's signature.

Officials say Clark made withdrawals totaling more than $36,000, emptying the trust fund account.

An arrest warrant was issued for Clark for six counts of forgery and one count of embezzlement. Each forgery account is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Clark could face up to ten years for the embezzlement charge.