SMETHPORT – The former Bradford woman who pleaded guilty to
stealing from her employers over a three-year period was sentenced
Thursday in McKean County Court to spend nine months in jail.

Stephanie Cramer, 42, of Plant City, Fla., was sentenced to nine
to 23 1/2 months in jail, given credit for 196 days of time served
and sentenced to serve two years of consecutive probation for a
felony theft charge.

Although Cramer’s former employers, Randy Hall and John Kohler,
allege she took $300,000, an agreement reached calls for her to pay
$90,000 in restitution – an amount her lawyer said could take the
rest of her life to pay back.

Hall, manager of Orchard Apartments Inc., spoke on behalf of
Kohler and himself at Thursday’s sentencing hearing.

“You worked for us for 10 years,” he said to Cramer. “You were
one of us. The last four years, your income was just over $100,000
with your ‘benefits.’ You stole from right under our noses.”

And, Hall alleged, Cramer destroyed their business records along
with it, causing losses that will take years to recoup.

“You’ve ruined the reputation of Orchard Apartments,” he
said.

“In the final twist of irony, six years ago I came up from
Florida to your wedding to give you away,” Hall said to Cramer. “At
this time, I’m hoping to put you away.”

Assistant District Attorney Christa Schott asked Judge John
Yoder to impose the stiffest sentence possible.

“She caused detriment beyond just loss of money,” Schott said,
adding she caused emotional distress by abusing the trust of her
employers.

Cramer had pleaded guilty to writing out unauthorized checks to
herself on the business accounts of Orchard Apartments and Kohler’s
Rumor Enterprises. She used a rubber stamp to endorse the checks
without permission.

At the time of sentencing, Yoder said Kohler and Hall are
pursuing a civil action against Cramer to collect more of the money
they allege she took from their businesses.