November trial set for former DMV clerk

PALMER -- A former clerk for the state Division of Motor Vehicles accused of stealing more than $11,000 in a year-long scam is scheduled to go on trial in November.

Darcy Nina Riley, 28, of Wasilla, faces one count of felony second-degree theft. Her attorney asked for more time Friday to prepare for trial. Anchorage attorney Scott Dattan, appearing telephonically, said he asked the DMV for Riley's employment records, but they had not yet been sent to him.

Palmer Superior Court Judge Eric Smith told Dattan he may have to subpoena the state to obtain those records. He scheduled the trial for Nov. 5. Riley is accused of using an apparent glitch in the computer system to alter records of fees collected from as many as 74 customers from June 2000 until the completion of a criminal investigation in June, according to court documents. She made an appearance at the hearing.

In a joint effort by Palmer police and DMV officials, the investigation revealed apparent inconsistencies in transactions made by the former clerk involving drivers who were paying to reinstate their Alaska driver's licenses, Palmer police said.

License reinstatements can be required for offenses such as a drunken driving conviction or failure to pay child support.

Charging documents claimed Riley would collect the more costly fees for license reinstatements, then go back into the computer and change the amount she collected to show the lesser fee for a duplicate license.

According to DMV officials, the cost to reinstate an Alaska driver's license is as much as $250 and a duplicate license costs drivers $15.

Riley was accused of pocketing the money at the end of the day after she kept track of the changes in transactions on a piece of paper, according to court records.

The accused clerk reportedly told investigators she would sometimes use the money to cover customers who came into the Palmer DMV and were short of cash.

According to documents, Riley said she accidentally discovered the way to "fool" the computer about license reinstatement fees in June 2000. She allegedly kept up the scheme until this past June.

Palmer police first filed a second-degree theft charge against Riley in July. A DMV official said in an earlier interview he could not discuss the specifics of Riley's case, but that she was no longer employed with the state agency.