×

Local woman sentenced for theft charges

LEWISTOWN — Annette Civitts, 53, of Belleville, was sentenced by President Judge David Barron to a minimum of three and a maximum of 23 months incarceration in a state correctional facility, followed by five years probation, after pleading guilty to theft by failure to make requested disposition of funds in June.

In April 2017, Civitts was charged with four felony counts of theft following a report that she had fraudulently issued herself payroll funds from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5935, where she was employed as bar manager and bookkeeper, according to court documents. Civitts also reportedly failed to make several deposits and signed off on several unauthorized transfers.

Post Commander Ken Wyland told police the VFW bank account had been overdrawn 154 times within 12 months, which resulted in $5,184.00 in overdraft fees. When the bank discovered many of the checks were written by Civitts, payable to herself and deposited into her personal checking account, a partial refund of the fees was issued. The total loss for which Civitts was responsible totaled $38,189.12, including payroll overpayments, deposits not accounted for and unauthorized transfers.

In addition to her incarceration and probation, Civitts is financially responsible to pay the costs of prosecution, a $300 fine and more than $24,440 in restitution.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today