Christine Johnson convicted of embezzlement at Coleman schools

A former Coleman Community Schools benefits specialist blamed her gambling addiction for the reason she embezzled school district funds.

Christine Johnson, 58, embezzled $6,644 from Coleman Community Schools, taking money from the school district in October 2022. A jury previously found her guilty of embezzling between $1,000 and $20,000 through a agent or trustee, and on Friday she was sentenced to six months. in jail and received two days in jail and three years of probation.

Before the sentencing, Johnson's attorney, Daniel Duke, said his client was living her life without problems. Johnson told Midland County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Carras on Friday that she frequents Gamblers Anonymous.

“I’m working on it,” Johnson said.

“She certainly won’t be able to pay restitution while she’s in prison,” Duke said.

However, before sentencing, Assistant Midland County Prosecutor Sara Bauman said Johnson essentially stole from children, and Bauman did not think a sentence of up to nine months was acceptable.

Bauman also questioned Johnson's remorse, especially since Johnson was arrested on the same charge in Algiers County in the Upper Peninsula following her arrest in Midland in January 2023.

Before going to trial in March, Johnson was offered a plea deal, giving her the option to plead guilty to attempted embezzlement. She rejected the offer and a jury found her guilty of actual embezzlement.

“You said you had a gambling addiction,” Carras said. “What you did was destroy the trust.”

The judge added that Johnson's family wrote to him about their remorse while she herself wrote that things were her lawyer's fault.

“I think I would have written about why I put myself through a test that I didn't have to do,” Carras said.

“The fact is you were guilty,” he added. “The jury had no doubt.”

The Coleman Community Schools Board of Education hired Johnson in December 2021. She resigned from her position in mid-October 2022, said Coleman Superintendent Jennifer McCormack.

“You owe a lot of money,” Carras said. “You also have debt greater than money.”

Tereasa Nims covers crime and courts for the Daily News. Email him at [email protected]