Former arts council employee sentenced to probation for stealing

A Cape Girardeau woman once employed by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri was sentenced to four years in prison Monday by Circuit Judge Benjamin F. Lewis, who suspended the execution of the sentence and ordered the woman to complete probation for stealing thousands of dollars from the not-for-profit organization.

Valaree Rutherford, charged with felony forgery in March, pleaded guilty last month to stealing more than $13,000 from the arts council by using a company credit card. Rutherford made nearly 40 unauthorized charges to the arts council's Staples credit card, which she used to buy miscellaneous gift cards and a GPS unit.

Rutherford was employed by the organization from July 2006 to December 2009 as an administrative assistant.

When asked by the judge why she committed the fraud, Rutherford replied that she didn't know exactly why she stole from the arts council.

"It was stupid," she said. "I don't really have a valid reason for it."

Rutherford's attorney, Wayne Williams, recommended the judge order a suspended imposition of prison sentence and supervised probation.

"Ms. Rutherford has no prior convictions on her record for any felonies," Williams said.

Rutherford was convicted of a misdemeanor in 2006, for stealing from another employer, Sears.

"She's a young woman who has made a mistake and she realizes she made a mistake," Williams added. Lewis also ordered Rutherford to pay restitution in the amount of $16,223. He said she must have the total amount paid in four years and six months from Monday's date.

If Rutherford violates her probation, including not paying the restitution in full, she may be sentenced to complete the four-year term in prison.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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