Reader comments
Genola clerk who stole funds is sent to jail

Seriously? | 11:27 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008

20 days? That's it? Wow, I need to get into city administration. Nothing we do in society has any consequences anymore, does it?

BH | 11:58 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008

to Seriously?:

The jail term needs to be taken in context. The accused pleaded guilty, has already made effort for restitution, and seems to show true remorse. In this day and age, all three of these conditions are rare. combined, they are almost unheard of.

Shiz | 12:04 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

I'm glad they now have more checks in place.
Don't want to run out of the ability to write forged checks.

Comments continue below

Roger S. | 12:06 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

The reporter on this article has let us down. We don't know exactly why the clerk was given such a light sentence. We are told that she has made some restitution and intends to eventually pay it all back. But many other people now serving in the Utah State Penitentiary could say the same thing.

Specifically, why was this defendant sentenced to only 20 days of jail time in the county jail for stealing nearly one quarter of a million dollars over a period of years while in a position of trust? Surely the judge must have had some reason for such a light penalty. What exactly was it?

To BH | 12:35 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

She's charged with six felonies and gets 20 days in jail? Unbelievable!

Why do we treat "financial" crimes so much differently that "sexual" crimes. And, why do we treat "sexual" crimes committed by women so much differently than sexual crimes committed by men?

This woman steals, over a period long period of time, nearly a quarter of a million dollars and gets a slap on the wrist, while a female teacher who seduces a male student into having multiple sexual encounters gets 6 months, maybe, in jail. But, a male teacher who is seduced by a precocious 15 year old girl is sent to the Point of the Mountain to rot?

I don't get it.

And, if the woman mentioned in this article had stolen several cases of beer from the convenience store over a long period of time, lots and lots of beer -- 6 felonies worth -- do you think she would be going to jail for 20 days?

No remorse | 12:51 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

She's not sorry about what she did, she's sorry she got caught! If she had been sorry about doing that she would have sought out authorities and admitted her wrongdoing. She purposely hid these acts and repeated them over time...certainly doesn't sound like someone admitting anything!

John | 1:13 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

To BH:

Yes, she was remorseful - after she got caught.

Wait! did you read this? | 1:22 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

"charged only for checks over $5,000".

A town the size of Genola has mostly small checks coming in. How many of those did she steal?

White-collar crime and tax evasion are bleeding our country dry. It's estimated that the wealthy (or those who have access to our money) evade over $385 BILLION in taxes every year.

Joe the Plumber works for wages and pays taxes on every cent. His employer, and the contractors they work under, can easily hide income.

Think I'm wrong? Then how did this "town clerk" evade notice of the large amount of money she was purloining.

Oh! | 1:48 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Just Bail her out, might as well bail that senator from alaska out too..as he at least had a little better plea...20 DAYS for six felonies plus 1/4 million dollars...where's the justice. I pay dearly for my bounced checks! ouch!

K.T. | 1:50 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

She has paid a large part of the money back. I am glad she only received 20 days, I get tired of paying for room and board. Let her work to pay off the rest. And she can pay for her own food and roof over her head.

Where do I sign up?? | 3:16 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Twenty days? And you get to pocket over half the money? That's a pretty good deal to me. I want in on it.

Yes, | 3:31 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

let her work to pay it back after her jail time. If she shows a DVD at the local Girl Scout fund raiser she gets 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Go figure.

concerned | 4:39 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

There is some real injustuce in our Judicial system. I have a friend who is serving 3 years in the Utah State prison for alot less than what this lady did. His was considered a white collor crime as well. He was willing to make restituion also, but that didn't seem to matter. There are alot more down at the point of the mountain that can claim the same, but they received a much different sentence than this lady. WHERE IS THE JUSTICE

Please someone | 5:10 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

play the relation card but never the race card!

SpySmiley | 4:08 a.m. Oct. 29, 2008

Where's Genola?

John | 10:44 a.m. Oct. 29, 2008

To K.T. (who said, "I am glad she only received 20 days, I get tired of paying for room and board."):

I AM willing to pay for a justice system that works - one that protects, that requires punishments that are a real deterrant, that supports victims and does not make them feel re-victimized and their losses meaningless, etc. I am willing to pay for such a system, including basic "room and board". It is one of government's most fundamental, important (and becoming most neglected) purposes.

Steve in California | 1:03 p.m. Oct. 29, 2008

So she gets approximately 1 day per $10,000 stolen. That is a good deal. Here in California not only do you go to prison but if you're a public employee you loose your pension if convicted of taking public funds.

real reason for plea | 1:18 p.m. Oct. 29, 2008

Ask the current and former Genola mayors why this plea is so agreeable. There is a lot of evidence they do not want given in court--such as the warnings they had about her behavior in previous years and they did nothing. A quick plea and everything is covered up nice and neat.

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Mike Terry, Deseret News

Former Genola recorder Traci Wright appears at 4th District Court in Provo for her sentencing for stealing more than $220,000 from the city. She received 20 days in jail plus probation and restitution.