Theft charge dropped against gambling addict

MINDEN -- A felony theft charge has been dismissed against a Gardnerville bank employee who admitted gambling away $15,000 from the bank account of a 78-year-old customer.

Janet Turner, 48, was a clerk at a Bank of America branch in Gardnerville when two unauthorized withdrawals were made from a recently widowed customer's account in April 2006.

Douglas County District Judge Dave Gamble said it was consistent for him to dismiss the charge because Turner had gone beyond what was expected of her by making full restitution and seeking help for her addiction.

"I rarely thank people after they've committed a crime," Gamble told Turner at a hearing Tuesday. "I thank you for being somebody I can refer to in other gambling cases as a good example of what you can do."

But Assistant District Attorney Michael McCormick said Turner deserved to be sentenced.

"I'm not asking for prison, but there ought to be some kind of negative effect," McCormick said. "What sort of message do we send if we say, 'OK, we'll dismiss if you seem to be on the straight and narrow.'"

In addition to making restitution, Turner apologized to the bank and customer, Gardnerville's Record-Courier newspaper reported.

"In the last year, with being so active in Gamblers' Anonymous and at Carson Valley Christian Center preparing to start a class for gambling addicts, I think of how addiction got hold of my life and destroyed it," Turner said. "I would like to be there for other people as addiction takes people's lives."

Lawyer Tod Young said Turner had testified about gambling addiction at the Legislature and been active in support groups. She had no prior criminal history.

"She's embarrassed and mortified to be in court," Young said. "She's taking back control over herself."