In a story Crossville News First broke last May about a Crossville woman embezzling over $100,000 from a local woman she was caring for, sentencing has been handed down.  Janet Reed, a former secretary at Stone Memorial High School, was sentenced to nine-years in prison to be served at 30 percent. Reed was charged last year with stealing from Kaye Johnson, a former school teacher who suffers from a mental condition which prohibited her from taking care of her own financial affairs.  Reed was serving as Ms. Johnson’s power of attorney from 2008 to 2015.  Reed claimed she had Johnson’s permission to take whatever money she needed from Johnson’s account.  However, the most compelling evidence that Reed did not have permission was her letter of apology to Johnson once the theft was discovered.  Lawyers for the State argued that there would be no need for an apology had there been permission granted by Johnson to Reed.  Reed testified that Johnson had told her to take whatever she needed…her (Johnson’s)brother would give her more.  Reed said she should not have listened to Johnson when told to take whatever she needed.  Reed stated she needed the money to help cover personal expenses which were piling up after her husband suffered a stroke. Her lawyer maintained Reed did not intend to break the law but only was trying to ‘survive’.

ORIGINAL STORY HERE