Ex-office manager gets jail for $125,000 theft

7/15/2009

BOWLING GREEN The former office manager at H&R Block s Bowling Green office was sentenced yesterday to six months in the Wood County jail, although Common Pleas Judge Robert Pollex said she could participate in the work-release program.

Janet L. Hess, 39, of Helena pleaded guilty in May to felony theft for stealing more than $125,000 from her employer. Judge Pollex placed her on community control for five years and ordered her to pay $128,418 in restitution to her former employer.

During her four years of employment with the business, Hess was in charge of receiving and depositing checks and cash paid by clients. Between February, 2004, and October, 2008, she failed to deposit the full amounts, prosecutors said.