Fort Smith woman pleads guilty to defrauding employer

A Fort Smith, N.W.T., woman has pleaded guilty to defrauding a local company out of more than $5,000.

Dorreen Elizabeth Vogt entered the plea in a Yellowknife courtroom via video conference on Wednesday.

She is accused of writing cheques and money transfers from Fort Smith Construction NT Ltd.'s account to people not associated with the company. At the time, five years ago, Vogt was an employee of the company.

The guilty plea comes just over two years after Vogt was charged. She was scheduled to have a jury trial on Nov. 12. Charges against a co-accused were dropped last year.

After accepting the guilty plea, the judge ordered that subpoenas sent out for witnesses who were supposed to testify in Vogt's trial be cancelled. Those included the owners of Fort Smith Construction, who are also relatives of Vogt's.

A date for Vogt's sentencing will be set on Oct. 28. At that time, the judge will also decide whether the hearing will be held in Fort Smith or Yellowknife.