Mishler sentenced to jail time, restitution in Acute Medical thefts

Friday, March 1, 2013

By JARED JERNAGAN Assistant Editor

A Tippecanoe County woman has been sentenced to six months in jail and ordered to pay $116,853 in restitution for stealing from a local medical practice.

Melinda D. Mishler, 50, Romney, appeared in Putnam Circuit Court Thursday morning, changing her plea to guilty to Class C felony theft.

Mishler was arrested in March 2012 for stealing $126,128.15 from Acute Medical Care in Greencastle. She was employed as the office manager of the practice owned by Dr. Thomas Black.

The thefts took place between 2008 and 2011.

Special Judge Blaine Akers accepted the plea agreement, which sentenced Mishler to eight years in the Indiana Department of Correction, six months of which are to be served in the Putnam County Jail.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mishler was also ordered to pay restitution for the crimes. In addition to the $10,000 paid on Thursday, her $10,000 cash bond was applied to the total amount.

This leaves more than $96,000, to be paid in monthly installments of $1,074.

After the six months in jail, Mishler is to spend the next 7 1/2 years on probation. However, if any payments are missed, the remainder of the sentence is to be spent incarcerated.

Mishler told the court she spent the money on an online gambling addiction.

Additionally, she said she attempted suicide when the thefts were discovered.

Mishler reported to the Putnam County Jail on Thursday afternoon to begin serving her sentence.

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Not that it makes any difference but the math doesnt jive. There are only 90 months in 7.5 years, so at that rate she would only have paid back 96,660 of the total amount of 116,853. So either her term isn't long enough or her payments arent high enough. With that said she would have to pay 1298.37 a month to make it paid in the 90 months.. That sux big time. good luck I am sure we will read about this again.

-- Posted by Oh My Goodness on Fri, Mar 1, 2013, at 7:31 AM

Response by Jared Jernagan:
You make a good point. I've reviewed court documents, and it appears I should have subtracted the $20,000 instead of adding it to the $116,000. As I understood the judgment, she had already paid $20,000 and had the $116,000 to pay. Instead, that was the total amount and the $20,000 was applied to it. Thank you for catching the problem.
Wow, I can believe that.

-- Posted by kcarnes on Fri, Mar 1, 2013, at 7:37 AM
Seems as though she got off light compared to the women before her. I find it odd there was never a mugshot like her predecessors..I am just happy given Doc Blacks issues that it is over for him and his family and staff. I am sure this is far from over courtwise.I am sure they will quietly modify her out of jail.

-- Posted by Oh My Goodness on Sat, Mar 2, 2013, at 12:23 PM
Her husband had nothing to do with it!

Integrity: loving someone at their worse, even when you know others will judge you for it!

-- Posted by PINKY1963 on Mon, Mar 4, 2013, at 7:31 PM

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