Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 19, 1994 TAG: 9404190163
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Prosecutors had sought jail sentences for both women, but more aggressively for Gloria Perkins.
Perkins, supervisor of Total Action Against Poverty's employment and training program, was more involved and less remorseful than her subordinate in the theft of nearly $1,000, Chief Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Betty Jo Anthony said.
"She used her position of trust to steal from an organization that otherwise would have used the money for those less fortunate," Anthony said.
Roanoke Circuit Judge Roy Willett gave Perkins, 47, a five-year suspended prison sentence and placed her on probation for three years for felony embezzlement.
Anastosia Metts, who worked as an assistant to Perkins and admitted helping to conceal the embezzlement,was allowed to plead guilty earlier this year to a reduced charge of misdemeanor embezzlement. She was placed on one year's probation Monday and was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.
Defense attorneys Steve Milani and Richard Lawrence had argued that incarceration would serve little purpose for their clients.
"To be honest, I've been incarcerated in my mind for as long as this incident has taken place," Metts, 34, testified.
Willett noted a "marked difference" between the attitudes of Metts and Perkins, who earlier denied the charges during a bench trial.
"I must accept the responsibility because I was director of the program," Perkins testified. "Even though my hands did not touch any money."
Before that admission, Perkins had complained that she was "railroaded" and deserted by once-loyal employees. "I don't understand why you persist in blaming everyone and taking no blame," Willett told Perkins.
Since the investigation began, both women have paid the stolen money back to TAP.
by CNB