A former Chamblee Police Department employee arrested and fired for allegedly fixing traffic tickets pleaded not guilty Thursday in DeKalb County Superior Court, according to court officials.
Bobbi Jean Farrell was indicted in October on four counts of theft by taking for allegedly arranging to have more than $3,000 in refunds from traffic arrest bonds sent to herself.
In an October interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Farrell, 34, seemed to acknowledged some type of wrongdoing.
"I made a huge mistake," the single mother of two said by phone. "I've ruined my daughters' lives."
Farrell could not be reached Thursday for comment.
Traffic offenders arrested in Chamblee who put up bond and later are acquitted or have their cases dropped are subject to a refund of their bond.
According to court records, between April and June of this year, Farrell funneled some of that money to herself by changing the citations of guilty offenders to show that prosecutors had dropped the charges, then having the refund sent to her address.
Chamblee Police Chief Marc Johnson said that during her eight-year tenure with the police department and the traffic court, Farrell had earned the trust of judges, police officers and other staff members and had been promoted to supervisor.
"She was like family," Johnson said.
Farrell was arrested on July 13 and subsequently fired. She was released on $15,000 bond.
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