Catholic Nun - Sister Marie Thornton spared jail term despite embezzling $850,000
November 15th, 2011 - 8:56 pm ICT by Aishwarya BhattNew York, Nov 15 (THAINDIAN NEWS) A Catholic nun has been spared a jail term after admitting that she embezzled $850,000 belonging to her employers. Sister Marie Thornton was the finance official of the Iona College when she misused the amount between 1999 and 2009.
A New York court heard during the trial that Marie used the money to fund her gambling habit. The Catholic Church, owner of the school, did not indicate that they want the amount refunded. The defense team pleaded that Marie should be made to do community service instead of being jailed for the offense.
Marie could have spent three years in jail but the judge accepted the plea of the defense team.
Marie started taking the money from the school accounts in 1999. Her lawyers blamed Marie’s gambling addiction on “childhood demons.”
She issued an apology saying, “I’m sorry I hurt so many people I genuinely loved. sorry for embarrassing my religious community, my family and my friends.”
Judge Kimba Wood sentenced Marie to 2,000 hours of community service and also ordered her to pay back $350,000 of the amount that she stole. The remaining amount of half a million dollars is covered by insurance.
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Tags: apology, catholic church, demons, finance, gambling addiction, habit, half a million, insurance, iona college, jail term, judge kimba wood, lawyers, million dollars, money, plea, religious community, school accounts, sister marie, spent three