Embezzler sentenced to one year

A Kalispell woman who embezzled from her former employers was sentenced Thursday to a year in prison.

Paula Burton, 50, was sentenced for three counts of theft by embezzlement. She received 10 years in prison with nine suspended.

Burton was originally charged with seven felonies that included embezzlement and forgery.

According to court documents, she worked in 1997 as a secretary and then office manager for Alert Security and Alert Recovery Service Inc., both owned by Dan and Nancy Smith. They sold the businesses to Tom Lindell in February 2003 and Burton continued to work for him.

Documents say Burton embezzled $49,000 from the Smiths' businesses and $38,000 from Lindell.

Police also alleged that Burton transferred checks from account to account and forged checks from both the businesses and Western Montana Senior Babe Ruth League and the Flathead Babe Ruth League, for which her husband was an authorized signer.

The funds transfer was intended to conceal the embezzlement, officials said.

Burton was originally sentenced on June 16 by District Judge Kitty Curtis.

On Thursday, Curtis modified the sentence so that Burton could serve her term under the direction of the Department of Corrections instead of Montana State Prison.

That means she won't necessary go to the women's prison but could be placed in a prerelease center or other facility.

Burton was represented by public defender Lane Bennett. Deputy County Attorney Lori Adams prosecuted.

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com