An Idaho-based Church employee has been sentenced after she stole $330,000 from her church. Kaitlyn L. Fisher, 31, initially pleaded not guilty to 15 charges but eventually entered a plea bargain. Had she been found guilty at trial, she would have faced up to 40 years in prison. Her defense said that Fisher was pushed into theft by a medical emergency that cost her over $100,000.
“My client did have legitimate medical expenses and issues that occurred with her family, her husband losing his job, the loss of insurance combined with COVID and other stressors, specifically financial stressors, and worried about the health and welfare of her child,” said the defense. “I think something in the order of $100,000 (of the embezzlement) went straight to medical expenses.”
However, police records tell a different story. They said she paid for landscaping, a new 4-wheeler, and a purebred dog with the stolen money. Fisher also funded a new addition to her home with the embezzlement. Lou Harris, the local prosecutor, argued that she should face a three to ten-year sentence. He said she had a ‘broken’ moral compass.
“She has a very clean history. But somewhere, for some reason, that moral compass was off enough that she was able to perpetrate this crime over a term of years to the church and its patrons and her coworkers and all the various people that she reported to or worked with,” the prosecutor stated. “That is something that causes one to take pause.”
“Without blaming the victims, it should be noted that, you know, we’re dealing with an organization that does oversee the financial well-being of congregations and has responsibilities upward,” Fisher’s lawyer. “I think the fact that this went on for as long as it did without oversight is unfortunate.” At the trial, the victims of the theft made a statement.
“Those of us who met with her and worked with her felt foolish for believing her excuses. We are angry. We are astounded at her brazen and extravagant misuse of funds and dismayed that we failed in our stewardship,” said one employee.”Ms. Fisher was entrusted with the responsibility of proper stewardship of these funds, making deposits and disbursements and payroll, accounting for and reporting transactions, funds, balances, etc. She betrayed that trust.”
The judge slammed Fisher’s actions at the sentencing: “One of the first things you learn as an attorney in law school, they tell you about a guilty mind, and that is when somebody violates the law and breaks the law, they go through a mental process. To do that, they have to understand that it’s what they’re doing is wrong, and then act on it,” said the Judge. “People and employers that employ people need to be able to trust them with assets.”
Watch Her Sentencing Here:
As her sentence was read, Kaitlyn Fisher broke down. Tearfully, she said, “I just want to say I’m so sorry. What I did was absolutely wrong, and my actions need to be accounted for. I understand that, so I’m here.” Before she was arrested for embezzlement, Fisher worked for the Prysbetery of Kendell, which represented 12 churches. This organization was part of the progressive Presbyterian Church of the United States of America.
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