Juneau embezzler admits to stealing $500K

Almost two weeks after the state charged a Juneau woman for stealing half a million dollars from her employer, she’s admitting guilt.

Christena Leamer, 43, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty Monday in Juneau Superior Court during an arraignment that turned into a change of plea hearing. She agreed to turn herself into Lemon Creek Correctional Center to serve 60 days in prison prior to her sentencing, which is now scheduled for Nov. 15.

Juneau District Attorney James Scott said the state will ask Judge Louis Menendez to sentence Leamer to five years in prison with four years suspended for the first-degree felony theft conviction. That means she would serve one year behind bars. A plea deal in place says Leamer can ask for up to three months of community service in lieu of some of the prison time, but no more. If she posts bail before her 60 days are up before the sentencing, the deal is off, Scott said.

Leamer must also pay $343,000 in restitution to her former employer, the Juneau Bone and Joint Center, as part of the deal. Any other amount the center wants to collect can still be considered in civil court.

Read more: http://juneauempire.com/local/2016-08-30/juneau-embezzler-admits-stealing-500k

[font color=330099]$514,371.76 - $343,000 = $171,371.76 and nine months in prison--crime pays for stealing money that includes Medicare and Medicaid funds.[/font]