Two Bishop State Community College employees, who pleaded guilty last week to stealing from the school, continue to collect their paychecks.
Marlene French, 37, and Emma Perkins, 56, have received more than $264,000 while on paid administrative leave, according to a spokesperson for the college.
French and Perkins were arrested in October 2006. Friday, they became the first two defendant sentenced in the financial aid scandal that nearly brought down the college more than three years ago.
Judge Robert Smith sentenced the women to two years probation and ordered them both to pay $8300 in restitution to the school.
At the time of their arrests, District Attorney John Tyson linked Emma Perkins to $69,000 in missing money and Marlene French to $23,000. Chief Assistant District Attorney Nicki Patterson told News Five today the restitution was based on the amount of money prosecutors could prove the women stole.
Dennis Knizley, attorney for Marlene French, says his client entered a "best interest plea," which means she did not agree with prosecutors facts in the case, but the District Attorney's offer was "too good to pass up."
Bishop State President Dr. James Lowe says French and Perkins will remain on the school's payroll until the college has completed the "fair dismissal" process.
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