A former financial secretary who pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges will have to borrow money to start paying back the more than $200,000 she stole from school funds, her attorney said.
“One of her goals would be to try and find resources that would enable her to pay restitution,” said Thomas Morrow, attorney for Wendy Sue Bowers, who worked at South Carroll High School where the money was stolen.
“It fairly clear that she doesn?t have any of the proceeds from her activities sitting in a bank account anywhere.”
Bowers has up to 10 years to pay back the money she took, Morrow said.
“I don?t expect she will be able to gather all the money, although I remain hopeful,” said Melissa Hockensmith, senior assistant state?s attorney for Carroll County.
Bowers pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count for felony theft, which covers the entire scheme over seven years, Hockensmith said.
Bowers, 39, of Taneytown, embezzled $206,564 raised through athletic events and fundraisers since 1999, according to court documents.
Bowers, who now is working as a receptionist in Pennsylvania, doctored receipts, keeping two differentrecords and pocketing the difference, court documents show.
“Over the period of time, it was a little [money] here and a little there,” Morrow said.
“It was a shock to her as much as anyone how much money had accrued.”
Bowers will be sentenced in January and could face up to 15 years and a $25,000 fine, Hockensmith said.
As a result of Bower?s arrest, Carroll County school officials have said they plan to tighten controls on accounts and hire more audit staff to better monitor funds.
