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CLEARFIELD -- A 78-year-old woman accused of stealing over $14,000 from an Osceola Mills church pleaded guilty Tuesday during sentencing court in Clearfield County.
Dorothy Louise Lowe of Hawk Run was the treasurer of the St. Laurence Church when she made out checks to herself, and used the church's debit card to make withdrawals in 2022, police said.
On Tuesday, Lowe addressed the court and apologized, saying she was faced with a problem and chose the wrong way "to resolve it."
Her attorney, Ryan Dobo, stated that Lowe was trying to help her son and provide for him.
Lowe signed an open plea, meaning her sentence in the case was up to the court.
Dobo, while acknowledging that employee thefts usually require a 90-day jail sentence, argued that due to her age, Lowe is not a candidate for incarceration, adding that her previous record consisted of only a traffic offense.
Assistant District Attorney Brittany McCracken stated that the chief financial officer of the church wanted Lowe to pay the restitution but did not want her to serve any jail time.
President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman said that he had received several letters in support of Lowe, but noted she embezzled the funds over a period of time. Ammerman sentenced her to serve 60 days to one year in jail with three years concurrent probation on three misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Lowe made out a $2,000 check to herself on Feb. 18, 2022, and another on Feb. 23, 2022, for $500.
She reportedly made 33 ATM withdrawals totaling $10,870 over a span of months with the first being completed on Feb. 20, 2022, and the last on Sept. 19, 2022. She also used the card to pay her auto repair bill on June 16, 2022, which totaled $107.05.
In addition, while she was in charge of collecting the donations each Sunday and depositing them, there was a discrepancy between the amount collected and the amount deposited.
During the investigation, police said a total of $14,603.05 was taken from the church.
In an interview with investigators on Jan. 16, 2023, Lowe admitted to taking all the money, according to the report.
She was originally charged with 47 counts each of felony theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.