COEUR d'ALENE - The former chief deputy clerk for Kootenai County has pleaded not guilty to a felony grand theft charge.

Sandra Kay Martinson, 62, of Post Falls, entered her plea in writing this week in First District Court in Coeur d'Alene.

Coeur d'Alene police say Martinson allegedly stole nearly $140,000 in county funds from a District Court account during a 10-year period.

Martinson was a county employee for more than 30 years, with an ending salary of $65,000. She retired late last year.

She has not been arrested, but has been brought into the court system on a summons.

Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall, who is handling the case because of Martinson's connection to Kootenai County government, said a summons instead of an arrest warrant is fairly typical in these types of cases.

County officials said when Martinson retired late last year, auditors undertook a routine review of her records and discovered "irregularities" that led them to suspect embezzlement.

Police said she wrote more than 210 checks to herself.

According to a police report filed in court, Martinson told police that financial stress was the reason for the alleged thefts.

She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007, the same year her husband lost his job. She said her medical bills added up to about $2,000 to $3,000 per month.

She also told police that some of the allegedly stolen funds were spent on a drag racing car she called her "third child."

She spent some of the allegedly stolen money on travel expenses related to the drag racing.

Martinson has declined comment.