Sentencing delayed in Iron DHS theft case

HURLEY — A planned plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for Friday morning for a 52-year-old Hurley woman who is charged with five counts of theft from a business setting was postponed in Iron County Court.

Joseph Rafferty, the attorney for Mary Peterson Tijan, told Judge Patrick Madden he needed more time to review “a vast amount of (computerized) data” he had received lately from Fritz Schellgell, acting Iron County District Attorney.

Madden postponed the hearing to May 4 at 10 a.m.

The judge agreed the data needs to analyzed by the defense, but told Rafferty the plea hearing date will not be moved again.

If the plea agreement that has been reached falls through, a July 31 jury trial date remains on the court schedule.

Tijan faces charges of using unauthorized checks, expense requests and charges amounting to $185,388 against the Department of Human Services when she was employed by the county.

Hurley Police Chief Chris Colassaco led the investigation.

It is alleged from September 2013 through April 8, 2016, Tijan submitted vouchers to the county clerk’s office and wrote checks that were questionable, also using a county credit card for her personal and family use.

It’s also alleged she altered check requests for mental health services so the money eventually ended up on her credit cards.

She was one of only two DHS employees authorized to request checks for the department.

A signature bond of $100,000 that was set on July 22 continues.