A former Shakopee High School assistant who stole $168,000 in school funds was sentenced Friday to four years and three months in prison.
Judge William Macklin also ordered Deanna Stanius to pay $184,492 in restitution to the school district and its insurer.
Stanius, 51, pleaded guilty to six counts of felony theft by swindle in Scott County District Court in November.
She stole the money by forging and cashing checks from the school's student activity account over three years, and used a school-issued credit card to advance herself more than $8,000 in cash at Mystic Lake Casino.
Stanius, assistant to then-Principal Jim Murphy, had testified that she stole the money to feed a gambling habit. She resigned last April.
Murphy, who has not been accused of a crime, resigned Dec. 1 after the school board voted to fire him.
A school district investigation showed no evidence that Murphy had engaged in theft, but concluded that he was responsible for overseeing the account.
KATIE HUMPHREY
