by peter e. bortner
Linda A. Mullin will not have to spend any time in prison as the result of being sentenced Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court for what prosecutors said was her stealing thousands of dollars in 2010 from the state liquor store where she worked as a manager.
Instead, Mullin, 46, of Minersville, will spend four years on probation after pleading no contest before Judge John E. Domalakes to three counts each of theft and tampering with records or identification.
Pursuant to a plea agreement between prosecutors and Mullin, Domalakes also sentenced Mullin to pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $7,675.32 restitution to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, and perform 20 hours community service.
"We're glad that the court authorized restitution," PLCB Special Investigator Michael O'Toole, a former Pottsville police officer who worked on the case, said after Mullin's sentencing.
By pleading no contest instead of guilty, Mullin did not admit committing the crimes but offered no defense to them, agreed that prosecutors had sufficient evidence for a jury to find her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and agreed to be sentenced as if she had pleaded or been found guilty.
Schuylkill Haven borough police charged Mullin with stealing the money in 2010 in three stages from the borough's Wine and Spirits Store, 515 Dock St. Police said the thefts occurred May 8, June 19 and July 31.
Police said Mullin filled out three false deposit slips in order to conceal the thefts, and M&T Bank never received the deposits that the slips supposedly represented.
Police also said Mullin worked the shifts when the deposits should have been made.
Mullin denied committing the thefts when questioned by police.
Assistant District Attorney Robert M. Reedy said Mullin took $2,424 on May 8, $2,656.72 on June 19 and $2,594.60 on July 31.
Domalakes was particularly concerned that Mullin, who said little during the hearing except to indicate that she understood and was voluntarily making her plea, compensate the PLCB, for which she had worked for eight years.
"Did you pay any of that (restitution)?" Domalakes asked Mullin.
"No," she answered.
"We're serious about making whole the victim of your offenses," the judge said.Defendant: Linda A. Mullin
Age: 46
Residence: Minersville
Plea: No contest plea to three counts each of theft and tampering with records or identification
Sentence: Four years probation