Emotional reaction inside the Tioga County Courthouse yesterday as an employee in the Owego-Apalachin school district is sentenced after a guilty plea of embezzling more than $50,000. Former Union treasurer of the Owego Apalachin employees association Amy Wales pled guilty to taking $51,000 from Union bank accounts. Family members cried as the judge sentenced her to 120 days in the Tioga County Jail. Wales is also ordered to pay $42,000 dollars in restitution during her 5-year probation period after her release from jail. Wales has already paid $15,000 and has to pay the remainder of $27,000 over her 5-year probationary period. Her attorney says she’s very sorry about what happened…how it affected the community and she has accepted responsibility. Owego Apalachin employees association President Jim Miller says they put new rules and regulation into effect into their union and they’re keeping very close tabs in making sure that this will never happen again. Wales’ defense attorney does not know whether or not they will appeal the decision.
