Legal secretary who stole from estates granted prison release

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GREENVILLE – A former legal secretary will be released from prison a little more than five months into her 12-month sentence for grand theft.

Lynette K. Foureman, 57, of Arcanum, appeared before Judge Jonathan P. Hein via video link Monday afternoon for a judicial release hearing. Her attorney, Randall Breaden, filed the request on Dec. 16.

Foureman will remain under high supervision of the Darke County Adult Probation Department. Judge Hein noted that when her attorney

“I had a notice the same day that Mr. Breaden filed your motion in this court that the prison officials wanted you placed on transitional control,” Hein told Foureman. Transitional control takes place under the supervision of the Adult Parole Authority rather than local authorities.

“My experience is that they’re often not as fully staffed as the local probation department,” he continued, “so it’s my belief that having you on judicial release with the (local) probation department gives greater accountability than you being placed on transitional supervision with a parole officer through the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.”

Foureman also was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and to pay $35,478 in restitution to her former boss, Gary Flinn, in addition to the usual terms of probation.

Flinn’s insurance reimbursed the estates, according to statements made in court at her sentencing, so Judge Hein could not legally order restitution for the money stolen, but the prosecution requested restitution to Flinn for his out-of-pocket expenses incurred, including insurance deductibles and legal fees, resulting from Foureman’s actions.

Hein noted at the time of sentencing that the insurance company could pursue reimbursement in a separate civil suit.

Foureman was sentenced in September to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty in June to two counts of grand theft, fourth-degree felonies, and one count of theft, a fifth-degree felony, for stealing money from the estates administered by her former boss’s law firm.

One charge of grand theft was for taking approximately $107,935 from the estate of Arthur Schaub between 2010 and 2014. The second grand theft charge was for taking approximately $24,579 from the estate of Ruth Schaub between 2010 and 2014.

The theft charge was from a second case, in which Foureman was indicted for stealing $2,000 from the estate of Helen Meyer in May and June 2014.

Lynette Foureman, left, appeared via video link from the Ohio Reformatory for Women for a judicial release hearing in Darke County Common Pleas Court. Judge Jonathan P. Hein granted her release under high supervision of the probation department.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2016/02/web1_webfoureman-1.jpgLynette Foureman, left, appeared via video link from the Ohio Reformatory for Women for a judicial release hearing in Darke County Common Pleas Court. Judge Jonathan P. Hein granted her release under high supervision of the probation department.

By Rachel Lloyd

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Reach the writer at 937-569-4354 or on Twitter @RachelLloydGDA. Join the conversation at facebook.com/Advocate360 or visit our website at www.dailyadvocate.com.

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