Nanny sentenced for theft from family
A Peters Township family’s nanny who was accused of stealing more than $37,000 from her employers’ home was sentenced Tuesday to one year less one day to two years less two days in Washington County jail.
Alicia Marie Thomas, 35, of 614 Fourth St., Monongahela, cried when she addressed Washington County Judge Gary Gilman. Thomas appeared before Gilman in August and entered an open plea, which left her sentence to the discretion of the judge.
Thomas was charged with stealing $37,430 worth of items from a house at 217 McCombs Road, Venetia, between May 1 and Oct. 10, 2014, according to an affidavit filed in the office of District Judge James Ellis. Thomas worked as a nanny in her cousin’s house while taking the items, township police said. She admitted to the theft and told police she pawned the stolen goods in Monongahela.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Thomas said she took the items to fuel her drug addiction. She told the court she has not used drugs since before she was in jail in late 2014 and has not sought treatment.
Her former employer, Heather Tower, said Thomas’ actions have taken a toll on her two children.
“My daughter won’t sleep by herself,” Tower told the court Tuesday. “She won’t sleep throughout the night. Why should (Thomas’) life be back to normal when mine’s not?”
Gilman said the fact that Thomas took items from the children – the same children that she testified that she loved so much – was concerning.
In addition to the jail sentence, Thomas was ordered not to have contact with the Tower family. She must also pay an undetermined amount in restitution to the family and Erie Insurance. She given credit for time served.
Christopher Sherwood, Thomas’ attorney, said that some items had been returned to the Towers. He declined to comment following the hearing. Assistant District Attorney Jerry Moschetta also declined to comment after the hearing.
Thomas is free on $5,000 unsecured bond. She must report Nov. 23 to begin her sentence.