MONTEVIDEO -- A Clara City bookkeeper charged with stealing from her employers must make $161,926.79 in restitution.
Brenda Sue Kabisch, 35, of Clara City, was sentenced Thursday in Chippewa County District Court after she had pleaded guilty to two of the seven felony counts of theft against her.
The court ordered her to serve 90 days in jail and 10 years of supervised probation. The probation requires that she make restitution and pay fines and fees for a total of $162,408.79.
She must make payments to fulfill the restitution over the 10 years of probation, according to Chippewa County Attorney David Gilbertson. The embezzlement took place over a number of years, and different insurance companies will provide funds to cover some of the losses to the owners.
The complaint alleged that she embezzled funds from her employer, Crossroads Truck Repair Inc., of Clara City, while serving as its bookkeeper. The thefts occurred over a period of time beginning Jan. 1, 2008, according to the complaint.
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The thefts came to light on March 30. Company co-owner Mark Quigley asked Clara City Police Chief Ralph Bradley to investigate a possible theft.
Quigley and partner Charles Olson were discussing the company's checking account. There were a number of checks with no identified payee, and the checks were handwritten rather that computer generated, the complaint stated.
According to the complaint, Kabisch allegedly stated: "Hey guys, it was me.''
She allegedly admitted writing checks on the company's account to pay off personal credit cards and monthly bills.
