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Milton woman ordered to pay restitution to church

By Stacy Vogel ( Contact )   July 18, 2008 - 7:11 a.m.

Hope Lutheran Church is more than ready to move on now that a theft case has been settled, a church official said.

The church at 335 Dairyland Drive, Milton, will receive nearly $2,300 in restitution after Susan M. Mehlert, a former church council member and director of the high school youth group, pleaded no contest to two charges of theft.

“We’re very happy that this has come to a closure and that restitution is being ordered,” said Scott Wasemiller, council president. “We wish there would’ve been an admittance to guilt, obviously, but we’re ready to move on.”

Mehlert’s attorney, Sara Eagle-Kjome, said neither she nor her client had any comment.

Mehlert, 44, of 9136 N. Raven Drive, Milton, was arrested in October after police said they caught her taking money from donation bags.

Later, church officials discovered Mehlert had been stealing money from the youth group by fudging account records, police said.

Mehlert pleaded no contest to theft charges in Rock County Court on June 20. In addition to restitution to the church, she was ordered to pay $400 in court fees and surcharges.




reader COMMENTS (13)
hannah
Jul 26, 2008 at 3:15 p.m.
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she is married and happen to have enough money maybe tucked away to buy a new 08 van!!!

RUSerious
Jul 21, 2008 at 10:48 a.m.
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justsayno: The subjct was NOT about the merits or demerits of supporting the church either. The fact is, no matter how you feel about it, this money was freely given to the church, not to Susan Mehlert.

justsaynotomath
Jul 21, 2008 at 9:47 a.m.
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supporting the church is PATHETIC ! the stoughton school was not the subject.

JCK
Jul 19, 2008 at 2:24 p.m.
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How about the Stoughton school? They deserve it too? Go ahead and support a pathalogical thief and liar. I don't belong to any church and I mean no offense but your position is pathetic.

justsaynotomath
Jul 19, 2008 at 10:20 a.m.
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the church has been stealing from the people since they started telling their lies to control the masses. it's about time someone steals from them. can you say No property taxes ? how about No accountability ? or my personal favorite one, above the law ?

werpknarly
Jul 19, 2008 at 9:24 a.m.
Suggest removal

sue is married, has a wonderful husband and great children, who im sure are embarrased to all get out. we hope she can get the help she needs and work thru this with her family and friends.

kesara
Jul 19, 2008 at 8:18 a.m.
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From the Stoughton school she forged checks that was from funds the children raised for the new school building fund. I read that she was charged with forgery and has a felony record. Also she is on probation for 3 years. I'm not sure if she is going to serve any prison time. I feel for her living in a small town where everyone knows what she did. That would be punishment enough having everyone look at you and wonder where else you have stolen from. The humility for her family must be unbearable.

copenhagen
Jul 19, 2008 at 4:19 a.m.
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Is she single ? ha ha

sewaelizebeth
Jul 18, 2008 at 1:53 p.m.
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Scott Wasemiller is a member of Hope Lutheran on Dairyland Drive. He is also the business manager or something like that.
My parents and my children go the Hope. It would suck knowing that a fellow church member-and church counsil member-could do that. Did she go to church for the right reasons or just because it would be a trusting place she thought could be easier to steal from?

beachsexton
Jul 18, 2008 at 1:40 p.m.
Suggest removal

She obviously did not learn from the Milton bust. She went to Stoughton and was arrested for the same:
"Susan M. Mehlert, 43, of Milton pleads guilty to stealing money raised by students at Martin Luther Christian Day School in Stoughton, where she was an administrator. Mehlert is sentenced to three years' probation and has to repay the money."(Isthmus Staff on Thursday 05/29/2008) http://www.isthmus.com/isthmus/article.p...

nutty
Jul 18, 2008 at 11:47 a.m.
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They should of made here stand on Milton Ave. for 8 hrs a day for a week wearing a big sign that said 'I stole from a church!'

hannah
Jul 18, 2008 at 11:01 a.m.
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she lives in milton. seems she was accused of steeling more than the 2300 in restitution and not only from the offering but the youth group.

tnimmo89
Jul 18, 2008 at 10:23 a.m.
Suggest removal

First off "Dairyland Drive"...hmm okay movng on Scott Wasmiller as in the Police officer..? Anyhoo why would you eevveerr want to steal from a church! She was probably just tring to get enough money to move away from Jansville...ha! Sara Eagle-Kjome very fine attorney though for record.

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