Wade receives 2 1/2-year sentence

Thursday, December 11, 2008

A Greencastle woman convicted of stealing more than $130,000 from a former employer was given a 2 ½-year sentence in Putnam County Circuit Court on Thursday, but will likely never spend a day in jail.

Tamera S. Wade, 45, was ordered by special Judge Thomas K. Milligan of Montgomery County to spend 18 months of her sentence as a direct commitment to Putnam County Community Corrections -- house arrest -- and the rest on probation.

Perhaps the most compelling testimony during the hearing Thursday came from Wade's son Tyler, 19, a Wabash College freshman.

"She's been a great mom," he said, making eye contact with his mother from the witness stand. "Without a strong household, I don't think the successes I've obtained would have been possible."

Wade was convicted of one count of Class D felony theft for taking a total of $130,828.05 over a four-year period from her former employer, Greencastle accounting firm Edward Wood & Co. Inc. From 2004 to 2008, Wade wrote 183 checks to herself from the account of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, which she oversaw at Wood & Co.

Wade said she wished she could say why she committed the thefts.

"Maybe it was depression, maybe it was a chemical imbalance," she said. "It's hard for me to comprehend that it happened."

Over the past four years, Wade said, several unpleasant things had happened in her life. Among them were the death of her father and mounting credit card and other debts.

Wade wrote the checks to herself and then used the signature stamp of a co-worker, Betty Skaggs, without Skaggs' authorization.

In court, Skaggs said she began having suspicions about Wade when she got a call from the bank saying the Kappa Kappa Gamma account was overdrawn. She found bank statements for the sorority in Wade's desk drawer, most of which were unopened, she said.

Skaggs and Ron Terry, who was Wade's supervisor, confronted Wade about the thefts on July 28. Skaggs said Wade became "defiant" at that meeting.

"She said, 'I wouldn't have had to steal if you'd paid me what I was worth,'" Skaggs said.

Skaggs said Wade also tried to convince Terry to let her keep her job and pay back from her salary what she had taken.

Wade worked for Wood & Co. for 10 years. She said as people quit, died or reduced the hours they worked, "More and more responsibility was being dumped on me at work." She said she asked for raises, but they didn't materialize.

Although Kappa Kappa Gamma is the only account Wood & Co. has lost as a result of Wade's thefts, Skaggs said other clients were uneasy about the safety of their money.

"We've had a lot of calls from other clients wanting to know if their money was OK," Skaggs said. "It's been a lot more work on my part."

Wade's husband of 23 years, Keith, said he had no idea his wife was taking money from her place of employment.

"We weren't spending money on sports cars and yachts," he said. "I never would have suspected it, and I still have trouble believing it."

Keith Wade said his wife is genuinely sorry for what she did, and that a no-contact order for her and her victims was rough for her because she wanted to express that to them.

"She wanted to apologize to the people she hurt," he said, his voice breaking. "It's been so hard for her not to be able to do that."

Wade's mother, Janice Inman, with whom Wade and her family reside, described her daughter as "a nurturing person." She said Wade took many trips to the hospital and nursing home during her father's illness.

"Tammy was with me night and day," Inman said. "I think (her father's death) had more of an impact on her than I realized."

The Wades also have a 9-year-old son, and Inman said the boy would be devastated if his mother went to jail.

"He's a worrier," she said. "He's very devoted to his mama."

Also speaking on Wade's behalf was Mark Miller, the pastor at Greencastle Christian Church, where Wade and her family worship. Miller said Tyler Wade had come to speak to him after his mother's arrest.

"It was a shock to him," Miller said. "It was out of character for what he'd seen and what he'd grown up with."

On the stand, Indiana State Police investigator Scott Stockton said Wade had been "burning the books" -- taking money from the sorority account and never logging the transactions, so to anyone looking at the ledger nothing would appear to be amiss.

Wade's thefts came to light when there were not enough funds in the sorority account to pay a presented check.

"A check that had been issued to an employee of Kappa Kappa Gamma bounced," Stockton said.

Stockton went to Wade's home to confront her with the theft allegations against her on Aug. 5. He said she had been "truthful and honest" since the beginning of the investigation, and that she was "remorseful."

Stockton said Wade told him she had used the stolen money for childcare, household expenses, bills, groceries and car payments.

Wood & Co. was insured for $100,000 against employee dishonesty. Wade presented a cashier's check for $31,828.05 to the Putnam County Clerk's Office Thursday to pay for the balance of what she stole and Wood & Co.'s insurance deductible.

Before Milligan handed down Wade's sentence, Wade expressed her apologies to her former co-workers.

"They were my family too," she said. "A co-worker's mother passed away after all this happened, and it broke my heart not to be able to be there for her."

Deputy Prosecutor Justin Long said he was struck by the length of time over which Wade committed the thefts.

"It didn't end until she got caught," he said. "I appreciate that she's been through personal tragedies, but that didn't give her any special rights. She threatened a business and violated client trust."

Wade's attorney Darrell Felling said his client didn't think she had been entitled to the money she stole.

"What I do think is relevant is to ascertain how the circumstances occurred," he said.

Milligan said Wade had been "a rather model person in most respects."

"The only blot on her character appears to be the taking of this money that didn't belong to her," he said. "There's nothing particularly unique or remarkable about what Ms. Wade did. What she's got to show for it is a criminal record."

Milligan pointed out that Wade could have been charged with 183 counts of theft and as many counts of forgery.

"She got a terrific benefit from the prosecutor's office," he said.

During her term of probation, Wade must complete 1,000 hours of community service per year. She must pay court costs and maintain employment, as well as pay back the people who paid off her debt.

In addition, she must sign a fourth amendment waiver so that she could be subject to searches of her home or person at any time; consume no alcohol or controlled substances and submit to a psychiatric evaluation.

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  • Hmmmmm how about the 100,000 that the insurance has to pay for? Does she have to pay that back???

    -- Posted by blah-blah-blah on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 2:12 PM
  • Steal 130k and get 1 1/2 years house arrest? Sounds like a bargain to me. $5500 in house arrest fees, 31k paid back already, misc court costs and she walks with over 90k? Is the 100k the insurance company paid going to be paid back by her?

    -- Posted by bobbittle on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 2:39 PM
  • Smile for the camera Ms Wade. Chemical imbalance...is that the best you can come up with?

    -- Posted by ExHoosier on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 2:44 PM
  • Is she smiling in her mug shot because she is depressed or because she got away with theft????? I'm sure her family is real proud of her now. Remind me not to go to her church either because they apparently do not honor the commandment that says Thou shalt not steal.

    -- Posted by jimsgirl on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 2:44 PM
  • nope, but she's been through so much other stuff...like we haven't.

    -- Posted by Nick | Nack on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 2:44 PM
  • Maybe it was the death of her father and mounting credit card debts? Whose ........fault would the credit card debt be? I am appalled at the court system(s), no matter what county it might be. For god's sake what is going on here? Can anybody explain why no one is being put behind bars for many years for theft? Drug dealers get 20 years....what in the hell is going on?

    -- Posted by whodouthinkur on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 2:57 PM
  • Can the insurance company go after her for the $100,000.00?

    -- Posted by whodouthinkur on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 2:59 PM
  • To jimsgirl; Maybe you might go to her church. You can't just pick and choose scripture to suit your purpose. There are many more that deal with forgiveness and compassion. Her sentence may not seem fair but then again you and I don't have to live with the consequences of her actions either.

    -- Posted by Hobbes on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 2:59 PM
  • No surprise here, since her son worked for the prosecutor's campaign.

    Once again it's all about who you know.

    -- Posted by LangdonUlger on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 3:41 PM
  • So it is okay to steal money now???....as long as you have a sad story lined up. I'm sure other people around the county aren't making as much as they are worth either, you have to make adjustments to the times. If money was that tight for you, pick up another job like others.

    -- Posted by GreencastleResident on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 3:46 PM
  • To be convicted of stealing more than $130,000 should equal hard time, not house arrest and with a sentance of more than 2 Years.

    -- Posted by ontheright on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 4:47 PM
  • We ALL live in glass houses!

    This site is nothing but a gossip column!!!!

    -- Posted by Sunflowermel on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 5:04 PM
  • Everyone is having hard times and struggling to make ends meet. Sure hope there are changes for the better in our court system in the new year.A slap on the wrist and not doing time for this crime is a crime.

    -- Posted by BOO_Boo on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 5:27 PM
  • Embezzlement is getting quite popular here in Putnam county! A chemical imbalance? Now thats funny, I guess thats why she is laughing in the picture?

    -- Posted by nascar_Couple on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 5:29 PM
  • Whatever happened to people being treated equal? A woman was sentenced to eighteen months jail time a few months ago for stealing money from a local eye doctor. She too is a good mother with children at home. Would it have made a difference if her children went and cried to the judge? A crime is a crime. People need to be held accountable for their actions. It shouldn't matter who you are or who you help campaign for. Mrs. Wade is teaching her children that it is okay to steal and get away with it. Something is wrong with our system to allow people to get away with these crimes.

    -- Posted by dell on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 6:08 PM
  • The judge himself said it all... Wade got a terrific benefit from the prosecutor's office. To be charged with only one count of the 183 times she stole and none of the 183 times she forged her co-worker's name...Christmas came early to Mrs. Wade this year.

    -- Posted by sneakers on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 7:20 PM
  • The only quote in this article from her lawyer was that he thought it was relevant to ascertain how these circumstances occured. AMAZING DEFENSE!

    Really now.............does it matter??

    -- Posted by Rome on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 9:39 PM
  • Well the "Good Ole Boy" system works just as well up North as it does in the South.. Just in the North evidently it is more profitable...

    -- Posted by calcans1 on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 9:43 PM
  • Tammy is one of the nicest people you could meet. she is always going 110%, with a smile and very outgoing.

    My problem with this picture is that she has broken the law for four years and knew what she was doing the whole time.

    Seems to me there are a lot of lies going on. Tammy's family lives with her mother, her mother is her babysitter. there are no childcare fees, there are no house payments. 4 years, atleast, of lies.

    The "SPECIAL JUDGE" states that, "she got a terrific benefit from the prosecutor office". well let me ask u this Judge***Aren't u the power of the court, aren't u the one that weighs the evidence, isn't this your court room? how could u come up with this verdict from your personal judgement. you dont know the family or the victims or anybody. so is this your normal, Montgomery County, sentece to be handed down for this type of crime? PATHETIC....THEY brought u down here and made u do what they wanted and U HAD NO CHOICE....tell us please. Headley knew this outcome and didn't want to be in the middle.

    The Wades are a great family...but the law has been broken, over and over and over...366 times that we know of. that is a whole lotta stealing going on. amazing that she walked away with over $90k for her troubles.

    So, did she steal bc they didn't pay her what she was worth or bc she was bi-polar or depressed

    or bc her bills were mounting like the rest of the worlds??????????????????????

    -- Posted by badboy46120 on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 9:54 PM
  • I have no horse in this race,but I do have an opinion.This court system(even w/a out of county judge) cant seem to find its fanny w/either hand.I,like one of the other posters here have watched the Banner over the years and have seen untold dozens if not hundreds of cases where drunks or potheads have been hammered by this very same court. While ANY crime IS a crime,theres zero sense in prosecuting those cases ,some victomless even and give harsh sentences, then a case like this gets virtually NO real consequences? WOW!! Look yourselves in the mirror judges, YOU are telling Putnam County people that crime INDEED does pay! We will all remember come next election.....

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 10:27 PM
  • What a real winner! I want to be just like Ms. Wade when I grow up!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 10:40 PM
  • I again have to ask, what is going on w/companies like this one(Woods&co.) and ONT(twice!) and those other imbezzlement cases? How in the heck does a person write 183 checks and take the money,forge another workers signature those 183 times,the company have a $130,000 missing and no one notices a thing? This one was over a cpl yrs! No auditing? Who does the taxes? Was their company accounting for money to the IRS accurately? Nobody noticed $130K gone,math bad, anything? Who's minding the stores at these places? Does that article say that Woods &Co is a ACCOUNTING firm,please,stop,ur killinme!heehee And EVERY client hasnt canned em? Cripes they cant keep track of their OWN stinkin money! Only in Putnam Co. And also,paleeez,another husband that didnt know a thing? Great investigation.....

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 10:41 PM
  • To the person hammering on Judges Milligan and Headley ... first of all, the maximum sentence Judge Milligan could have given Tammy was three years. He couldn't have imposed another charge on her. He gave her darn near the max. And house arrest may not be as bad as going to jail, but think about sitting in your house for A YEAR AND A HALF. Think about having to watch every step you take. Think about the stress that would put on you and your family.

    It's not jail, but it's still a punishment.

    And no, Judge Headley DID NOT know what the outcome was going to be. When a judge recuses himself, as Judge Headley did, they are completely out of a case. And he didn't recuse himself so he wouldn't be in the middle of a predetermined outcome. I don't know him personally, but from what I've heard he did it for ETHICAL reasons. Everyone pounds elected officials for being shady, then when they try to do the right thing they end up getting their hind ends kicked for that, too.

    People around here drive me crazy. No one can do anything right and everything is a conspiracy theory. This town is full of paranoid nut jobs.

    If you all are so smart and moral, why didn't you run for judge?

    -- Posted by feelingroovy1103 on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 10:52 PM
  • Yes we can all see that "she is always going 110%, with a smile and very outgoing." Just take a look at her mugshout! Who the heck smiles like that for a mugshot? Either someone with a chemical imbalance..roll eyes..or someone that doesn't care one bit about what she did. And it is amazing to me that the husbands of this woman and the woman that stole from the special needs children had no idea that their wives were stealing this much money. What did they think? That the thousand dollar bill fairy kept dropping by with free money? They knew, and you will not convince me otherwise.

    -- Posted by putnammom on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, at 11:52 PM
  • Can we please pick one day a year and designate it "IMMUNITY DAY" for Putnam County. Everyone can steal as much as they want and receive immunity. Come on folks, let's band together and see if we can get "IMMUNITY DAY" passed. IT might save us alot of time and aggravation, not to mention the humiliation that comes with this town and our elected officials. Remember people who put these individuals in their judicial capacaities!!! Has anyone ever done the research as to how many thefts we've had and what each one received for the past....say 5-10 years. I'll bet we'd all be amazed at the money that was stolen and what they received as far as punishments. Old National Bank, ONT (2), the old guy from Area 30, Mark Frisbie and the list goes on and on..........

    -- Posted by whodouthinkur on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 6:56 AM
  • Hello - Right now I am employed, but I would like a better job. I would like a job that I could steal from my employer and just get a 1 1/2 or 2 year vacation for doing it! I am just above the poverty level and I have to pay my own rent, insurance, car payment (to get to work), utilities, medical expenses, etc. Please hire me it you want me to become dishonest and steal from you. Please respond quickly!!!

    -- Posted by Taxpayer5253 on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 8:28 AM
  • This isn't just a Putnam County issue and it isn't just and issue with women (as graydog tried to imply). There are men and women from all walks of life with an entitlement attitude. They think they have the right to take things (not just money) that they haven't earned, that aren't theirs, and to blame a chemical embalance, the economy, mounting debt (of their own making), and any other reason other than just admitting their own greed and selfishness.

    -- Posted by 06purple18 on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 8:37 AM
  • What do you get for $200K? 2 year house arrest?

    $250? 2.5 years?

    I don't know... $130K and four years is a lot of chemical imbalance. Just what chemical are we talking about?

    They say crime doesn't pay... but embezzlement apparently might -- at least in Putnam County.

    -- Posted by whatsup on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 8:46 AM
  • To JimsGirl:

    First of all, mug shots are typically taken before sentencing, so I doubt she's smiling b/c of her sentence. HELLO.

    Secondly, may I remind you that church is exactly what Tammy needs now! What kind of church would turn their back on someone because they sinned? Not any church I want to be a part of. Any church in town would have done the same, because Jesus Christ said so. Perhaps you SHOULD visit that church to see the outpouring of support, though no one condones her actions. We are all sinners, including you JimsGirl, and according to the New Testament, no sin is greater than another, so let he who has no sin cast the first stone. I SERIOUSLY doubt that would be you, since you are sinning by passing judgement. WOW... small minds, small town.

    -- Posted by MsBehaving on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 9:47 AM
  • Did MsBehaving just tell jimsgirl that she was sinning by passing judgement and in the next sentence say,"Small minds,small town"? Ummm,is that judging and isnt that sinning according to urself MsBehaver? Gotta love it....

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 9:53 AM
  • What happened to having to pay back for your mistakes. I'm sure everyone wishes they could get by with stealing $100,000 dollars in the clear. How can you tell your children the consequences of stealing when in Putnam county you can actually go to court and still come out ahead of the game. I'm sure if I had an extra 100,000 grand sitting around I could have a lot of fun in the house for a year and a half. Just watching the presents be delivered every day. She should do the right thing and pay back every penny, how can you live with that on your conscience that you made away with $100,000.

    -- Posted by greencastleparent on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 9:54 AM
  • My 18 year old was caught with "reefer" in a friends car and got in more trouble than this. $130,000? I'd actually DO 30 days IN JAIL AND 2 Years house arrest!! Sign me up!

    -- Posted by townielove on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 1:39 PM
  • What about the insurance premiums that her former employer will have to pay, which are most likely to increase significantly, that is, if the company can get a policy at all.

    I want it all, and I want it now ... yes, I struggle with that, too. And the vast majority of us also feel that we are worth much more than what we are paid (and maybe we are ... but in most cases, that is not our job to decide). However, "Thou shalt not steal," and I certainly do not (and I do not even attend church ... and have nothing against those who do, either, because most of them are honest, decent people).

    I sympathize with Ms. Wade in that she had to face some "unpleasant" situations during the time in which she was stealing (by the way, I probably experience several "unpleasant" things every week ... and I think I have a pretty good life), for which I hope she receives the help she may need, but that still is absolutey no excuse for stealing from people who trusted her.

    I sincerely appreciate that we are entitled to freedom of speech in this country but wonder if some people/Banner Graphic are exposing themselves to possible libel suits by making/publishing comments made up of what are essentially unsubstantiated rumors/second-hand information (I am no attorney, though, so I have no idea).

    -- Posted by outtahere on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 1:41 PM
  • Has anyone ever thought about contacting the Attorney's General office and requesting an investigation regarding the lack of sentences for theft crimes here in Putnam County? Can we as little, poor people do that?

    -- Posted by whodouthinkur on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 2:05 PM
  • Feeling groovy, Giving only part of the max sentence and then changing it from JAIL Time like the punishment calls for,and substituting home detention isnt even close to given her the max! She is a thief,that coldly wrote herself 183 checks from someone elses account,forging another persons signature and never turned back on her own. She was stopped because she goofed up the numbers(another story all together,it being an Accounting firm) She only was caught,not decided on her own that it was wrong. I'd bet if not for her own shakey accounting,w/o that check bouncing,she'd ride this illegal free gravey train the whole length of the tracks.Put her in jail,like other criminals,create a deterrant(please,judges,look that term up)How was she,chemically imbalanced enuff to execute 183 times and maintain cover for 1,400 days and not have enuff clarity to realize wrong and stop the greed and stealing? yes,her sentence WAS a Christmas gift,handwrapped by our courts..

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 2:19 PM
  • Could this sentence have anything to do with the fact that her son is involved in the local Republican Party? Lets see, Mr. Bookwalter is a republican, son is involved in the Republican Party....mmmmmm. Smells a little fishy to me!

    -- Posted by sickand tired on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 5:20 PM
  • BG why delete some of the comments..this is news in GC and she was treated differently than the rest of the citizens. Leave comments on here freedom of speech is a right still.

    -- Posted by letusalltalk on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 9:40 PM
  • What's interesting is that you have to PAY for house arrest. It isn't free. I believe (don't hold me to this) but i THINK it's $10 for every day you're on it. Not to mention there's an initial setup fee. So, if she needed to steal all that money because of financial issues then how on earth is she going to afford home detention? And Good Luck finding a job with a felony!

    -- Posted by putcoresident on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 9:53 PM
  • I am also from a small town like you all, luckly we don't have a gossip colum like this. You people must not have anything better to do then sit around and throw your two cents out and say what you need to say to make yourself feel better. And then down grade everyone for there comments and make judgements from "what you hear". Why didn't you all run for office if you think you can save the world/community and know or think you would have done somthing differently in this case. You can blame it on the son the husband and or her mom, why she got out of this, but for her life, will never be the same and that's a punishment in its self. Bad choices are made everyday. Maybe your turns next!!!!

    -- Posted by asmalltowngirl on Sat, Dec 13, 2008, at 7:03 AM
  • Cry me a river! If you cant evaluate your elected officials and be either supportive or critical depending on the merits then why not just lay down and take anything that we let them do? We elecct these people and expect them to serve our county in a manner that assures us we arent having violence,corruption,heightening of criminal activity,that they execute our desires and values that we use in selecting them.we DO have a right to our opinion. Sure we dont want to know the gossip laden info of their personal life. However,everything related to the specific news/crime ect is open season when our elected officials do such a shabby job of representing our values,safety ect..

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Sat, Dec 13, 2008, at 10:41 AM
  • Smalltowngirl must have had a few moments to read the "gossip" column...and to add her 1cent (it might have been 2cents, but I had to subtract for spelling errors)

    -- Posted by ExHoosier on Sat, Dec 13, 2008, at 7:44 PM
  • Well, smalltowngirl, I maintain that we like our "gossip column" because it's there and we like to complain. It's better than saying it face to face and then severing relationships.

    And I would also like to know: Does being from a "small town" make you illiterate? Because I stopped counting your spelling errors after I realized they weren't accidents.

    -- Posted by siriusly on Sat, Dec 13, 2008, at 7:46 PM
  • What about the comment "'I wouldn't have had to steal if you'd paid me what I was worth,'". I need money but I work for it, live on my own and pay my own bills. When did the jail go to red, with matching lip-stick?

    -- Posted by letusalltalk on Sat, Dec 13, 2008, at 11:16 PM
  • Seriously! It's all so amusing! The son actually testified that "Without a strong household, I don't think the successes I've obtained would have been possible." Just imagine the impact on children if the parents actually teach good moral values...like honesty and hard work to name a few. To those of you that make excuses for the thieves that we have read so much about....shame on you all too! In hard times we do not steal from those that have put their trust in us! I'm sure we have all had hard times and challenges that test our character. I hope these examples (of judicial leniency) will make a lasting impression next election.

    -- Posted by ExHoosier on Sun, Dec 14, 2008, at 11:24 AM
  • To Hobbes........I feel no compassion for a thief who makes excuses for stealing. Any church that condones her behavior and makes excuses for them needs to be reexamined. Her minister and church members should take a good hard look at what she has done and the fact that she uses her deceased father as an excuse. She's a thief, for God's sake.

    -- Posted by jimsgirl on Sun, Dec 14, 2008, at 7:12 PM
  • to MsBehaving..I left the small town life sometime ago but I do find it entertaining that small town politics in Greencastle still allow the guilty with contacts to be given lesser sentences than those with no contacts or less of a financial standing within the community.And,FYI, the big smile in the mug shot was taken at the time of her booking. She was smiling because she knew she was going to get away with a crime!

    -- Posted by jimsgirl on Sun, Dec 14, 2008, at 7:21 PM
  • I am sorry, comments need to be disabled now! Banner, I am embarrassed that you are allowing our town to attack one another! This paper is a disgrace!!!!

    -- Posted by Sunflowermel on Mon, Dec 15, 2008, at 6:40 AM
  • Do any of you have any concept of what house arrest is? That is punishment.

    Again, all the negative commentary makes me so proud to live in Putnam County.

    -- Posted by citizenoftheworld on Mon, Dec 15, 2008, at 1:41 PM
  • Wife, Mom, Daughter, whatever. When I was a child and did wrong I did not get a pat on top of the head; I got a belt on the back of my behind! I understood than that I did wrong. It appears in this case that she got a pat on top of the head. What leason does this send to our child and those that are tempted to steal. If you what to steal, I guess you need to come to Putnam County to do it. Just 2 weeks of actual jail time would have satisified us all. She will get sued by the insurance copy for the rest of the money but you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip! I wish her well in her recovery and I wish the Putnam County Justice system would swing by Walmart and pick up a Belt!

    -- Posted by localjoe on Tue, Dec 16, 2008, at 4:56 AM
  • Either way, we are all, including myself, small minded in a sense. I hope that the Wade's continue going to church, and that their church of choice continues to support them, not condone, what has been done. That should be the one place they can turn to to feel love and acceptance. I am guilty of passing judgement many times, but I don't profess to be perfect or walk on water. It's just sad that it's come to this, for all of us, and we should all (yes, including me) be ashamed for judgeing and gossiping. Imagine if we were all Proactive instead of Reactive!

    -- Posted by MsBehaving on Tue, Dec 16, 2008, at 8:14 AM
  • There are a lot of comments about Mrs. Wade and her smile. You are all assuming this is her mugshot! If you look closely, she is not wearing orange! I think the Banner used this photo to let you believe she was smiling in her mugshot...allowing all of you to make judgement on her!

    -- Posted by Sunflowermel on Tue, Dec 16, 2008, at 12:12 PM
    Response by Banner Graphic:
    We did receive the photo from the Putnam County Jail. Ms. Wade surrendered herself and was released on her own recognizance. She was never really "in" jail.
  • this whole thing is a load of crap, if it was anyone else they would have been taken to the cleaners. They (being the wade family) are not sorry for anyting other than getting caught. They both think that they are so much better then everybody else. I like the comment if she was paid what she was worth then she wouldnt have stole. HaHa what does she think she is worth? In my book nothing!!! I hope that they have to pay all the money back and that they never get a job aroound here again. Once a theif always a theif just remember now she knows that she can get by with it. Also if you were married 23 years could you hind this from your spouse? especially since they have no bills. The whole thing is pathetic.

    -- Posted by madman on Wed, Dec 17, 2008, at 10:57 AM
  • I don't know her, but I think she's got a long road ahead of her whether she's truly sorry or not. If she's unremorseful with her actions and the ripple effect - it'll catch up with her in the future. If she is as sorry as her family says - she can turn this boat around, but she's still going to have a difficult path ahead of her. My opinion -

    What adolescent is going to listen to her when she attempts exerting parental authority ?

    If she was unaware in the past, she now knows what a lot of people think of her and her husband. Was he oblivious to her actions ? Only he and his creator truly know - but, just in case he didn't know - I'll bet he's a little more on the observant side from now on. No bills ? Well, there's definitely some debt now. Hopefully no one enables her and pays the debt for her. If they love her - they'll let her dig herself out of this mess herself.

    As for her telling her employer she wouldn't have stolen if she had been paid what she's worth... most know that is a lame cop-out excuse ..... I think her pay rate will change, too, to reflect the change theft creates in the area of employer/employee worth.

    I cannot claim to walk on water either, but have a concern of nothing productive happening while she is on house arrest. I have the same hope for her and her family - "that the Wade's continue going to church, and that their church of choice continues to support them, not condone, what has been done. That should be the one place they can turn to to feel love and acceptance." I also hope she participates in life application Bible studies for her personal growth.

    I also hope while she is on house arrest that she gets evaluated and treated for the chemical imbalance - and learns the appropriate way to handle the unpleasant things, difficult times, and negative stress that are part of life and happen to everyone. And, maybe after she gets her chemical balance back - while she's on probation she can find a mission trip project to travel with - to an area where people toil 12+ hours a day for a fraction of minimum wage and still have absolutely nothing, but remain humble nonetheless.

    -- Posted by Scripted Spontaneity on Wed, Dec 17, 2008, at 2:46 PM
  • I hope the insurance company files a civil suit against her, but it will be like that George person who stole with the sheriffs department. He had prior civil suits against him yet always managed to hide the money.Sad the prosecutors office didn't see fit to do their duty.

    -- Posted by commonsense55 on Thu, Dec 18, 2008, at 4:51 AM
  • it's true that the comments need to be disabled on this one. I tried to respond to a "feel good" piece the other day and they were disabled after 2 days... not enough drama I guess.

    -- Posted by townielove on Thu, Dec 18, 2008, at 9:59 PM
  • people to clear the air.

    this is not her mug-shot this photo was gave to them.Think she has a neckalace on,can't wear jewlery in mugshot pictures.

    she deserved what she got this time.

    -- Posted by ct14 on Sun, Sep 27, 2009, at 11:00 AM
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