$300,000 embezzlement leads to prison

FALLON -- The former president of the Churchill County School Board who said she embezzled nearly $300,000 over seven years to feed her shopping addiction has been sentenced to two to five years in prison.

Debbie Getto Smith of Fallon earlier pleaded guilty to taking the money from an elderly client of her bookkeeping business by using her credit card to pay for such things as hunting trips, horse feed and furniture.

Washoe County District Court Judge Peter Breen also ordered Smith on Monday to pay $283,937 to the victim, Joanna Hibbert Ross of Ross Investment Co.

The criminal complaint alleged that between Nov. 2, 1999, and Dec. 8, 2006, Smith used a credit card belonging to Ross.

Smith said at the sentencing she was on anti-depressants when she started embezzling because of the pressures of caring for her family and her business, and that she rewarded herself by shopping.

"Shopping is a great anti-depressant," she said. "It's a vicious circle and a vicious disease. I wanted more and more and thought it would make me happy. It was a cycle I couldn't stop."

Smith said she got so far into debt and was glad when Ross found out so she could address her shopping addiction. Ross said Smith betrayed her trust.

"I am no computer person, and I believed that Debbie had my best interest at heart, and it never occurred to me that she would steal from me," Ross said. She read a list of items Smith charged to the credit card, including hunting trips, tires, horse feed, taxes and furniture, and said Smith even hauled her home garbage to work to dispose of it.

Deputy District Attorney Lane Mills said it was "mind boggling" that Smith would embezzle from someone who treated her like a member of the family. He also questioned Smith's claim that a shopping addiction led to the embezzlement.

Outside the courthouse, Ross said she felt the sentence was fair and was relieved it was over.

"If I never see her again, that'll be just fine," Ross said.