SMETHPORT – The former secretary for the Foster Township
District Judge’s office was sentenced Thursday in McKean County
Court to a term of probation for misapplying funds from the
office.

Frances Paul, 43, of Bradford, was sentenced to 18 months
probation for eight counts of misapplying funds from District Judge
Barbara Boser’s office while she was employed there.

Between Jan. 2, 2003, and Aug. 19, 2005, Paul obtained funds
that were paid to the magistrate’s office and failed to properly
deposit those funds in a timely manner. Some were deposited up to
five months after they were supposed to have been recorded in the
court’s account.

Her attorney, Anthony Clarke, said all the funds were repaid
before the police charged her with anything.

“What she did was effectively give herself a series of
short-term loans,” Clarke said. He explained she was in a period of
“great personal economic problems” and her husband was off work on
disability from his job as a City of Bradford firefighter.

“My client does accept responsibility,” he said. As a result of
her actions, she lost her job of 17 years, her retirement and
suffered “great personal humiliation.”

Paul also addressed Judge John Yoder.

“I’m sorry for what I did,” she said, crying softly. “I should
never have done it.”

Yoder said in assessing the matter for sentencing, there were
several factors he took into consideration. As an aggravating
circumstance, “this adversely affects public trust in the court
system,” Yoder said.

As mitigating factors, Yoder considered that Paul had no
previous criminal record, has cooperated fully with the
investigation into her actions and that he believes she poses no
risk of offending again.

In addition, full restitution had already been made in the
case.

Along with her probationary sentence, Paul was ordered to pay a
fine of $1,000 and to perform 200 hours of community service unless
she is otherwise employed. Her attorney said she has a full-time
job.

The amount of money involved in the misappropriation, according
to court records, was $5,354.10. All of the money was eventually
deposited into the accounts of the district judge’s office.