SMETHPORT – An Olean, N.Y., woman will serve just over two weeks
in jail for taking more than $5,000 from Beacon Light Behavioral
Health Systems Inc.

On Thursday in McKean County Court, Julie Anne Ganoung, 42, of
1234 Old Rock City Road, was sentenced to 15 days to 23 1/2 months
in jail for 95 counts of insurance fraud, 50 counts of forgery, one
count of theft by deception and one count of receiving stolen
property.

Ganoung read a statement to the court, expressing her remorse
for what she had done. Mentioning “burnout” and “exhaustion” as
causes for her actions, Ganoung said she is very sorry for and
ashamed of her actions.

“My behaviors have caused my family much shame,” she said
quietly. She added that she has lost most of her personal
possessions will likely lose her home as a result of her
actions.

Between Sept. 20 and Feb. 28, while Ganoung was working for
Beacon Light, she submitted numerous vouchers for treatment that
she had not actually provided.

She had forged someone else’s name on the vouchers indicated
that they had been approved. She was paid for providing services
and was reimbursed for mileage.

Those vouchers were turned in to an insurance company for
$5,232, according to District Attorney John Pavlock.

Judge John Yoder explained that he had received a letter from
Beacon Light President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Urban
asking for leniency on Ganoung’s behalf.

“Justice would not be better served by incarceration …
incarceration would be detrimental to your three children,” Yoder
said as he explained the contents of Urban’s letter to Ganoung.

Yoder also explained that Ganoung had no prior criminal record.
However, even considering these factors, the judge felt jail time
was warranted.

“A probationary sentence would deprecate the seriousness of
these charges,” explained Yoder prior to imposing the jail
term.

At each of the 147 counts, Yoder imposed a sentence of 15 days
to 23 1/2 months to run concurrently with each other.

Ganoung was also ordered to pay a fine of $2,500, to provide a
DNA sample to the state DNA database and databank of felony
offenders, and to undergo a mental health evaluation and follow
through on any recommended treatment.

She was ordered not to have any contact with Beacon Light.

Yoder said Ganoung will be automatically paroled at the end of
her minimum term unless the district attorney objects to her
release at that time.

Beacon Light offers services to children and adolescents with
emotional and behavioral problems. Treatment is provided both in
group homes and through services within the community.