Former Lucas County Clerk of Courts employee sentenced to four years in prison

9/2/2008

A former bookkeeper for the Lucas County Clerk of Courts Auto Title division was sentenced in Lucas County Common Pleas Court Tuesday to four years in prison after being convicted of several theft and forgery charges.

Tina Lake, 47, was sentenced to three years each for aggravated theft and felony theft in office and one year each for five counts of forgery. Judge Gene Zmuda ordered the theft charges be served concurrently but consecutive to the forgery charges, which would also be served concurrently.

Lake pleaded guilty to the charges July 29. She was convicted of stealing more than $101,000 from the clerk s office since 2005.

Lake, who resigned from her position in March, was handcuffed and led from the courtroom in tears.

Clerk of Courts Bernie Quilter said he was "satisfied" with the sentencing. He added that he has since implemented changes in his office policies.

Lake was ordered to pay $155,355.32 in restitution, including $29,421.32 for the cost of the investigation.