August 21, 2008

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Former Deputy Coroner sentenced for stealing gift cards from a dead woman

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By Ashley Campbell acampbell@nbcaugusta.com

Story Published: Jul 7, 2008 at 6:43 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 8, 2008 at 2:14 PM EDT

A Former Richmond County Deputy Coroner will not be going to jail for stealing gift cards from a dead woman.

NBC Augusta was in court Monday where Charlena Graham pleaded guilty.

It was an emotional scene as Graham stood before the judge and the family of Stephanie LeBlanc.

With tears in her eyes, Graham apologized to the family and to the Office of the Coroner for stealing $325 worth of gift cards from LeBlanc after she died last year.

Graham faced up to 15 years in prison.

Judge Charles Overstreet sentenced her to seven years probation. She was also ordered to pay back the $325 within ninety days. She must also pay $5,000 in fines.

NBC Augusta spoke with Stephanie's father, Bruce LeBlanc, after the judge made his ruling.

LeBlanc told NBC Augusta even though he thinks the ruling was fair, he still feels hurt and violated.

"I saw her that morning that this all took place. I trusted her with my daughter at that time. She failed,” said LeBlanc.

The family also told NBC Augusta that it was a day of closure for them.

NBC Augusta did try to speak to Graham but she refused to comment.

View Oldest Comments First

Thursday, Jul 10 at 3:58 PM Mikey Fetus wrote ...

Is everybody insane? This is crazy. She is dead! What good is a gift card to her? Will she spend it? Or go to the mall. No shes dead! What a disgrace to press charges.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 11:49 AM Cindy wrote ...

What a strange case. I think she has some serious moral searching to do but I do also think that the case has been blown way out of proportion. I'm not excusing her poor judgement but really is this even newsworthy?

Thursday, Jul 10 at 12:26 AM Icarus wrote ...

I think this story points to a much larger crime. The loss of compassion and care. Should she go to prison? I dont personally think it is apprpriate to jail someone over this but i do think that there are serious questions to be asked. Why would someone feel comfortable doing such a thing? How does this influence the publics perception of the already minimally trusted government? What is sacred? Few of these questions, if any can be answered through incarceration. Still a very sad story.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 7:59 PM TRIPP wrote ...

HOW COME EVERYTIME SOMEONE SCREWS UP, AND OR A FAMILY MEMBER IS HURT, THE "P.I.G.S." PROFFIT. APPEARENTLY WE SHOULDN'T STEAL, BEING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HATES THE COMPETITION!

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 6:10 PM Ben wrote ...

Were they planning on putting her 6 feet under with those cards? Whatever... The people are right: locking her up does no good. Period. Move on.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 5:16 PM daniel wrote ...

If she stole from the dead, she would steal from you. Back in the day, they would cut off her hands. She should consider herself lucky.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 2:30 PM Jamie wrote ...

Wow $325, what a dumb beach.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 1:57 PM Ramona wrote ...

She just got caught. Look at the leaders of this country! Look at the examples that are set for these people.Instead of worrying about some petty theft has anyone noticed our countries leaders have murdered thousands of helpless innocent people in Iraq & crippled the U.S. in the meantime? THATS a crime!

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 11:40 AM Randy wrote ...

She was let off too easy. She probably has done this before and only regrets getting caught. She was in a position of public trust and betrayed that trust. Theft is theft regardless of whether they are deceased or not. I think appropriate would have been 6 months in county jail and cannot be hired for any government related job.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 10:32 AM carol wrote ...

What a waste of a good job. She should be ashamed of herself. Stealing is stealing whether from the living or deceased.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 3:58 AM belac213 wrote ...

The woman was dead. I would much rather have her stealing from corpses than living people. Why waste federal money jailing her for something so trivial. Count your blessing it wasn't some crazy having sex with bodies instead of spending thier gift cards.

Wednesday, Jul 9 at 1:40 AM olyone12 wrote ...

I too think she should have to do community service, and at least got 30 days in jail, so she could see how being locked up feels, and how bad the food is. She's no doubt lost her good paying job and reputation. Now she will also have to acknowledge on job applications that she has been arrested and charged with a crime in the last 10 years. That will follow and haunt her for a long time.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 7:16 PM Squad wrote ...

See? The law only applies to the little people.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 5:12 PM srod wrote ...

Lindsay-what a callouse comment to leave. Consider if this was your loved one. Ms. Graham has most likely stolen prior to this and most likely from the deceased. It is a shame she wasn't sentenced to some time in prison. She deserves it. And, she should have to perform an extensive amount of community service. Unfortunate that she is let off with just a slap on the wrist.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 5:07 PM kathy12 wrote ...

I think that her sentence was fair. Although what she did was wrong, the punishment I think fit the crime. Throwing her away in prison for 15 years wouldn't do society any good considering there are bigger issues at hand in the world.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 4:11 PM Austin Chu wrote ...

I work for a company that manages gift cards, and I've been following gift card related crimes on savvywallet.com. This could be the lowest one I've read. There is something mysterious about the value of gift cards. Would she have done the same if it was cash?

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 3:41 PM Austin Chu wrote ...

I work for a company that manages and tracks gift cards, and I've been following stories on gift card fraud on savvywallet.com. The string of gift card related crimes are rising, and getting more strange case by case. Coroner? you have got to be kidding me.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 3:28 PM jaydee wrote ...

The judges sentence was correct. Not every crime/criminal belongs in prison. She needs to do community service for a very long time. To put her in prison is a waste of resources. She needs to pay back in community activities. Sitting stagnant in the pen is of no use to anyone.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 3:12 PM lindsay wrote ...

I'm sure the dead women didn't exactly care about the matter. She shouldn't have been punished other than having to give back the cards and the "fine" should be payed to the family, if anyone, not the state.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 2:17 PM Temy wrote ...

She belongs in prison. It is highly likely that this is not her first time stealing from the dead. Her crocodile tears were only because she got caught, not regret for what she did.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 10:20 AM DistantObserver wrote ...

I feel so sorry for the deceased young woman's family having to go through Ms. Graham's despicabe deed, the investigation, arrest, arraignment and now sentencing. Perhaps now they can get on with the process of grieving that was so horribly interrupted. Ms. Graham still has to face the judgement of a higher authority. I think she should have had to do community service also.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 10:17 AM Ralph wrote ...

charlena graham should have gone to prison.she violated the oath of office.

Monday, Jul 7 at 9:48 PM Berry wrote ...

No justice for the dead.

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