Heather D. Nelson pleaded guilty Thursday to a single charge of grand theft in Clark County Common Pleas Court. She was initially charged with one count each of theft and tampering, both third degree felonies. Instead, she pleaded guilty to a single count of grand theft, a fourth degree felony, as part of a plea agreement.
She could face as many as 18 months in prison if she fails to complete the year-long diversion program, said Christian Sticken, an assistant attorney for the Ohio General Attorney’s Office. Nelson declined to provide a statement during a brief court hearing Thursday.
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She will also be required to notify the court if she violates any other terms of the plea deal. Prosecutors agreed to drop the charge of grand theft once Nelson completes the diversion program.
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Prosecutors said she stole as much as $150,000 from King Kennel over a period of several years, while she worked as a manager at the business. The Springfield News-Sun previously reported the thefts were made in $100 to $200 increments over several years and the owner discovered abnormalities in the kennel’s files and went to police.
Prosecutors said the thefts generally occurred between 2001 and 2014.
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