Woman Receives Probation for Theft
By Laurie Mason Schroeder, Staff Writer
Trisha McLaughlin, the former manager of the Newtown Veterinary Hospital who was arrested in March and charged with stealing more than $55,000 from the practice, was sentenced Monday to 17½ years of probation.
McLaughlin, 38, of Westminster, pleaded no contest in Bucks County Court in Doylestown to misdemeanor theft charges. As part of the plea deal, she was ordered to pay $70,000 restitution and to have no contact with Dr. Timothy Ireland, her former boss, or his employees.
“Everything I thought I knew about McLaughlin was wrong,” Ireland said following Judge Wallace Bateman Jr.’s ruling. “She was one of us. She put every ounce of her energy into making this a great place.”
McLaughlin was hired as a receptionist at the hospital in 2001 and promoted to manager in 2010, when she was trusted with overseeing financial transactions. Authorities said she used the hospital’s credit cards for personal expenses and falsified records to cover up the thefts.
A review of the hospital’s finances revealed that McLaughlin had written checks to herself and used company funds to pay for clothing, jewelry, home improvements, and vacations. She was fired in March after discrepancies were found.
Ireland said he was devastated by the betrayal. “Her actions impacted me financially and emotionally. I hope she gets the help she needs,” he said.
McLaughlin’s attorney, Louis Busico, said his client has accepted responsibility for her actions and is working to make amends. “She will continue to make restitution and believes she can move on and live a very productive life,” Busico said.
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Theft
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Prolific and diverse, police said, as the investigation generated a mountain of paperwork. The complexity of the investigation prompted a private investigator and lawyers involved to make the case one of notable interest. Ireland said Monday that he took no pleasure in seeing McLaughlin plead to the charge, saying she needed to pay for what she did. He said he was devastated by her actions, as the practice he founded 30 years ago with his wife was threatened.
Most people who knew her and her financial situation had become. Ireland also said he believed McLaughlin would steal again.
“She will victimize someone else because she believes her own lies. She will live in denial that she is ever at fault, and that’s very concerning,” the veterinarian said.
Bateman said he understood Ireland’s frustrations, but he trusted the District Attorney’s Office to monitor McLaughlin’s restitution payments. He ordered McLaughlin to repay the full $70,000 within a year and to avoid any contact with Ireland, his staff, or his clients. She was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and was permitted to make modest monthly payments.
“If the recommendation shocked my conscience, I would not accept it,” Bateman said. “Quite frankly, the DA did a fine job getting the money he did because frankly, we don’t see that money.”
McLaughlin’s attorney, Louis Busico, said she was fair. He noted that the charges against McLaughlin were reduced from felonies to misdemeanors as the investigation progressed.
“There are allegations, and then there’s what you can prove,” he said.
McLaughlin didn’t comment and walked briskly out of the courtroom after the hearing. She refused to comment on the case.
In a no-contest plea, a defendant doesn’t admit guilt but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
Laurie Mason Schroeder: 215-345-3147; email: lmason@calkins.com; Twitter: @BucksCourts
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This case underscores Louis Busico’s dedication to achieving fair and just outcomes for his clients. Through skilled negotiation and effective representation, Busico ensures that his clients are given the opportunity to make amends and move forward positively.
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