Aide steals 25k from schoolkids, gets just 4 years probation - Chicago

A former Chicago Public Schools teaching assistant was sentenced to 4 years probation for embezzling almost $25,000 in money from a Northwest Side school. It seems like a lucky break for the now-convicted thief.

CHICAGO, IL (Catholic Online) - Sonia Lopez, 50, stole $24,544.69 from the school where she worked as a teaching assistant, by writing checks to herself. She said she used most of the money to pay off credit card debt.

The money she stole and spent was stolen from the school, and thereby from the kids for whom she was responsible. She also stole about $3,000 in cash collected from students for fees and other payments. She then attempted to cover her tracks by falsifying school records, suggesting the money was spent on legitimate purposes.

She has been sentenced to 4 years probation and ordered to repay the money. It counts as a lucky break. Many people have stole much less money from older people and institutions and seen prison for it.

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