A Brown County judge on Monday ordered a woman convicted of stealing $112,223 while an airport parking cashier to pay $22,223 in restitution.
Rebecca Eland, 31, of Bellevue pleaded no contest to felony theft in November and was sentenced in January to five years' probation with one year in jail.
On Monday, Circuit Court Judge Kendall Kelley heard directly from Eland who said there was no way she could pay back the entire amount in the five years she'll be on probation.
Eland said she is currently earning $6.80 an hour as counter help at a fast food restaurant. She said she's working an average of 33 hours a week, but does not plan to be promoted because of her criminal record.
Eland said she receives sporadic child support from her ex-husband with whom she has two children. She said she has no other substantial assets and expects no significant changes to her ability to make money.
After questioning from her lawyer, Kelley asked: "What'd you do with the money you stole?"
Eland said she used the stolen cash — about $32,000 a year— to pay for rent, living expenses for her children, groceries and day care.
In ordering restitution, Kelley noted that the county has been made whole, repaid by Standard Parking, the Austin Straubel International Airport parking vendor. Deputy Brown County District Attorney John Luetscher noted that Standard's insurance company — AIG — paid $90,000 of the amount and Standard Parking made up the rest, which included a $10,000 deductible and investigative and accounting fees.
Kelley ordered Eland to pay the $22,223 to Standard for its losses in the case.
Kelley noted that AIG, in its role as an insurer, took on some of that risk of being a victim voluntarily.
"They get paid to bear that risk," Kelley said, noting that nothing prevents AIG from suing Eland in civil court to recoup their losses.
Eland began serving her year-long jail stint March 16 and expects to retain her job while she's allowed work release privileges.
Source: Andy Nelesen, Green Bay Press
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