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CANTON —
A former bank worker is going to prison for embezzling from 14 elderly customers.
Melanie A. Stano was sentenced Monday in Stark County Common Pleas Court for stealing roughly $165,000 over a four-year period.
Judge Taryn Heath gave Stano a four-year prison term but agreed to consider releasing her in six months if she doesn’t violate any rules while incarcerated.
“I don’t believe you pose (a threat) to the community,” Heath said. However, the crime was “so egregious” it would be inappropriate not to sentence her to prison.
“I don’t want this to define you as a person,” Heath said. The judge said she believes Stano “can go on and lead a productive life” after prison.
Stano, 58, of 8265 Beatty St. NW in Jackson Township, pleaded guilty in January to theft from an elderly person or disabled adult, a first-degree felony. The charge carries a prison range of three to 11 years. Stano does not have a prior criminal record.
According to court records, Stano, a bank employee for 30 years, made withdrawals from the accounts of bank customers 65 or older between May 2007 and December 2011 at FirstMerit’s downtown Massillon branch at Lincoln Way and First Street NW.
Stano used the stolen money for personal expenses. Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Kristen Mlinar said she did not know specifically how the money was spent.
Stano was fired in February 2012 after bank officials discovered the theft and conducted an internal investigation. FirstMerit turned over its findings to Massillon police in September.
Stano repaid the money before she was formally charged, said her attorney Arnie Glantz.
Stano “used everything she had (financially) to pay back (the funds),” he said.
A former bank worker is going to prison for embezzling from 14 elderly customers.
Melanie A. Stano was sentenced Monday in Stark County Common Pleas Court for stealing roughly $165,000 over a four-year period.
Judge Taryn Heath gave Stano a four-year prison term but agreed to consider releasing her in six months if she doesn’t violate any rules while incarcerated.
“I don’t believe you pose (a threat) to the community,” Heath said. However, the crime was “so egregious” it would be inappropriate not to sentence her to prison.
“I don’t want this to define you as a person,” Heath said. The judge said she believes Stano “can go on and lead a productive life” after prison.
Stano, 58, of 8265 Beatty St. NW in Jackson Township, pleaded guilty in January to theft from an elderly person or disabled adult, a first-degree felony. The charge carries a prison range of three to 11 years. Stano does not have a prior criminal record.
According to court records, Stano, a bank employee for 30 years, made withdrawals from the accounts of bank customers 65 or older between May 2007 and December 2011 at FirstMerit’s downtown Massillon branch at Lincoln Way and First Street NW.
Stano used the stolen money for personal expenses. Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Kristen Mlinar said she did not know specifically how the money was spent.
Stano was fired in February 2012 after bank officials discovered the theft and conducted an internal investigation. FirstMerit turned over its findings to Massillon police in September.
Stano repaid the money before she was formally charged, said her attorney Arnie Glantz.
Stano “used everything she had (financially) to pay back (the funds),” he said.
