Wednesday, February 14, 2007

A 43-year-old woman who admitted Tuesday to embezzling cash from a drivers'
education program at Rockford Schools faces up to 10 years in prison. School
officials and Kent County Sheriff's Department investigators say Tamara Sue
Osech, who lives in the school district, turned herself in last fall and
confessed to taking cash payments intended to go to a state-run commercial
driver's licensing school run at facilities in Rockford. Court records show
Kent County Sheriff's Deputy Benjamin Cammenga talked to the woman, who said
she used the money to fund a "serious gambling problem" that involved online
betting and casinos. The 17-year employee, who mostly worked as a bus
driver, took between $30,000 and $35,000 in 2005 and 2006, according to
school officials. She oversaw the licensing program and would keep cash
payments while properly sending in the checks, according to police. Osech
pleaded guilty before Kent County Circuit Court Judge Mark Trusock on
Tuesday, a day after her attorney, Dennis Carlson, said the lack of any
leeway from the prosecution was going to bring the case to trial, where he
would work to show that she embezzled less than $20,000. Embezzlement of
more than $20,000 is a 10-year felony while embezzlement of less than
$20,000 is a five-year felony. However, Carlson said prosecutors were able
to document the amount, meaning there was little point in moving forward
with a trial. Carlson said his client was addicted to gambling and she
finally came forward to ease her troubled conscience. "She showed up at jail
before (police) were even aware of the crime and said 'Arrest me,' " Carlson
said. Osech is scheduled to be sentenced March 28. In the meantime, she
remains free on $5,000 bond.