DADE CITY - A former University of Tampa professor who stole $120,000 from the American Spaniel Club pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of grand theft.
But the club's leadership made sure former treasurer Barbara Lippincott will remain free, so she can work, earn money and repay the group.
That meant passing on prison time and allowing Circuit Judge Pat Siracusa to withhold an adjudication of guilt, allowing Lippincott to continue teaching university courses.
Lippincott, now a part-time accounting professor at Nova Southeastern University, instead was sentenced to 15 years' probation. During that time, she is required to pay $500 a month until June 2009 and $1,000 a month after that until her probation ends. About $45,000 will go directly to the club; the remaining $75,000 will go to the club's insurance carrier.
Linda Moore, a Dallas-based lawyer and the club's legal adviser, said prison didn't make sense for Lippincott.
"To some extent, we're a business," Moore said by phone from Texas. "Obviously, the club and the board of directors felt greatly betrayed, but the restitution aspect was much more important for the good of the club, particularly in light of the fact that she had been a good treasurer."
The 55-year-old, who used to live in Wesley Chapel, turned herself in to Pasco County authorities in August. She was accused of writing 71 checks to herself between July 2006 and March 2007 to feed an Internet gambling addiction.
Lippincott has been expelled from the spaniel club, Moore said. Lippincott could not be reached for comment Thursday.
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