NORWICH – A former NBT bank teller who admitted to stealing about $67,000 from her employer was sentenced to state prison this week.
In an unusual move, Kimberly N. Aitken, 27, of Norwich, pleaded guilty to second degree grand larceny March 5, throwing herself at the mercy of the court without any sentencing agreement with prosecutors.
Chenango County Judge Howard Sullivan sentenced Aitken to one and a half to four and a half years in state prison Monday afternoon.
First Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee had asked Sullivan to sentence Aitken to two to six years.
Defense Attorney Leslie Lewis of New Hartford told the court his client had already served more than six months in the Chenango County Correctional Facility and had a request for Aitken to serve the rest of her sentence at the local jail denied.
Aitken, who was previously released pending the sentencing, was handcuffed and immediately led from the courtroom to begin her prison term.
“When somebody who has never been in jail is placed in county jail for six months, it is a traumatic and an eye-opening experience for them,” said Lewis.
Aitken apologized in court for her crimes and recalled how difficult she found incarceration.
“I would like to start by saying I’m sorry, sorry for what I’ve done,” said a tearful Aitken. “I’ve already missed six and half months of my (family’s) lives because of selfishness.”
Aitken said she feared the idea of having a felony conviction and the impact it would have on her future finances and plans for adoption.
Aitken also claimed she acted alone, a position disputed by investigators that drew critical remarks from Dunshee and Sullivan.
“Tabitha did not help take this money,” Aitken told the court.
“You were less than forthright in assisting us in getting to the entire truth in this matter,” Sullivan said. “I believe it was due to misguided loyalty to your co-defender.”
Aitken’s codefendant, another former bank teller, Tabitha M. Eccleston, 26, of Sherburne, pleaded guilty to fifth degree criminal possession of a stolen property Sept. 13.
Eccleston said she was suspicious Aitken was stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the bank and accepted about $10,200 in cash from her between January 2008 and March 2009.
She was ordered to repay the stolen amount and will serve three years probation in the plea arrangement with prosecutors.
Aitken admitted she stole the money while working as a teller supervisor at NBT’s main branch on South Broad Street in the City of Norwich, where Eccleston also worked.
Aitken and Eccleston were arrested after an April 2009 investigation by the Norwich City Police Department and NBT bank security uncovered the missing funds.
Sullivan also noted that since the sentence was not part of any plea agreement, Aitken retained her right to an appeal.