McKibbin

A Marshalltown woman who admitted to stealing over $42,000 in total from the Bobcat Booster Club and the Marshalltown High School (MHS) Afterprom Committee was granted a deferred judgment for her crimes during a sentencing hearing held at the Marshall County Courthouse on Monday morning.

April Lee McKibbin, 46, will not serve any prison time, and she will be placed on five years of supervised probation after an initial plea agreement was reached last year. A $1,370 civil fine has also been imposed, and it will be fully suspended so she can focus on paying the remaining restitution owed to the two nonprofit organizations. She agreed to plead guilty to a single count of First Degree Theft, a Class C felony, while Judge John Haney agreed to dismiss the remaining charges of Second Degree Theft and Identity Theft Over $1,500 under $10,000.

Both the state, represented by Marshall County Attorney Jordan Gaffney, and the defense, represented by attorney Jennifer Weaver, agreed on the proposed sentencing guidelines, and Gaffney did welcome a pair of individuals — Addie Bane and Lindsay Kusserow — forward to the speaking podium to read victim impact statements on behalf of the two organizations.

Bane said the afterprom funds that were stolen were designated specifically to provide a safe place for MHS students to gather after the annual dance, and she felt the consequences of the theft went beyond a simple cash value.

“At a time in my life when I should’ve been focusing on being with my brother who was dying from brain cancer, as a treasurer of afterprom, I was instead uncovering deceit and taking the necessary actions with law enforcement,” she said. “Meanwhile, our committee of eight hardworking moms had to work even harder to save what we had left and ensure the great kids of MHS had an amazing afterprom.”

Bane told Haney she felt “disappointed, frustrated and saddened” by McKibbin’s actions but also recalled the passion she once held for the committee’s work and thanked her for taking accountability and pleading guilty. Kusserow, the next speaker, shared that she and McKibbin were best friends and served together in both organizations prior to the revelation of the theft in 2024, and since then, she felt as if she had endured a major loss and gone through the stages of grief as a result.

“In a matter of seven days, I had to mentally process (the fact) that my best friend had stolen thousands of dollars from our organization, take over as president of that organization (Booster Club) and attempt to regain the trust of our donors who were slowly getting wind of the situation,” she said. “In the weeks following the discovery, each police meeting would unveil more evidence putting together a timeline of April’s lies, (theft) and deceit.”

Gaffney then shared some remarks of his own, criticizing McKibbin for taking advantage of her roles and attempting to hide the theft before crediting her for admitting guilt and paying back around $16,000 as he recommended the aforementioned sentence.

“She has a unique and powerful opportunity that’s right in front of her to pay back, in full, all that she took, to set an example of accountability as parents and to turn her rock bottom into the foundation that culminates into something good and meaningful in her life,” he said.

Weaver agreed with the prosecution’s recommendation for a deferred judgment, citing her client’s otherwise clean record and work history despite the fact that she had temporarily “lost her way.” McKibbin is currently employed and undergoing mental health treatment, she added, and numerous letters of support were filed with the court.

The defendant herself then gave a statement, becoming emotional as she apologized for the harm her actions had caused.

“I take full responsibility for them, and I know that my own decisions led me here. I am deeply saddened that I hurt many people that I love and the community I serve,” she said. “I am ashamed for what I’ve done and the fact that it got to this point. This experience has changed me in many ways… I have learned that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a necessary part of growth and healing. I offer my sincere apology to those I disappointed, to the community and to the ones I had the privilege to serve. I cannot change the past, but I can be committed to continuing to work on my mental health, to live with integrity and become a person whose actions reflect the lessons I’ve learned. I understand that trust is earned, and I am prepared to spend the rest of my life proving that this moment will not define me, but rather, how I choose to grow from it.”

After deliberating for several minutes and considering the evidence at hand, Haney opted to follow the joint sentencing recommendation.