Former Principal Of NH Parochial School Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $152K

From the New Hampshire Union Leader on 10/20/2014:

The former principal of a private school in Litchfield intends to plead guilty to embezzling more than $150,000 from the Catholic school, and may spend up to 13 years in prison.

Shannon L. Dannible, 37, of Amesbury, Mass., is expected to plead guilty to a felony count of unauthorized taking or transfer for stealing $152,468 from St. Francis of Assisi School over four years.
According to court documents, Dannible obtained funds from the school’s bank accounts by issuing herself checks, withdrawing cash for herself and directing school funds to pay off personal debts.

In May 2011 — about two years prior to Dannible’s arrest for embezzling — the Catholic Diocese of Manchester was holding frequent meetings with parishioners and parents of St. Francis to try to resolve budget concerns.
While there was no talk of the school closing, Dannible told the New Hampshire Union Leader at the time that ideas on how to generate more income and revenue for the school were addressed at meetings, as well as how to reduce the school’s debt.
A few months later — before the embezzling was discovered — tuition rates were increased at the school.

Dannible, who was indicted for the thefts last year, will be back in court on Nov. 12 for a plea and sentencing hearing.
She has reached a plea deal with prosecutors that will, if approved by Judge Jacalyn Colburn next month, order her to spend five to 15 years in prison for the offense, with 2½ years of the minimum sentence suspended.
In addition to the prison time, Dannible will have to pay full restitution to the school, with an initial payment of $10,000 to be handed over at the time of the sentencing, according to the terms of the plea on file at Hillsborough County Superior Court in Nashua.
If restitution payments are made in an appropriate time frame, the maximum 15-year prison sentence will be reduced to as low as 11 years, court documents say.

Without the plea deal, Dannible would have faced trial and may have been ordered to spend 7½ to 15 years in prison.
She will also be required to participate in counseling or rehabilitation, and provide a yearly copy of all tax filings with a probation officer.