Former Vet Employee Sentenced for Theft Charges

The Warminster woman who was charged with stealing thousands from the Newtown Veterinary Hospital was sentenced Monday, according to a Courier Times report.

Trisha McLaughlin, 38, a former practice manager of the Newtown Veterinary Hospital, was sentenced to 7 ½ years of probation. McLaughlin, who pleaded no contest in Bucks County Court, must also pay $70,000 restitution and do 50 hours of community service, the Courier Times reported.

McLaughlin initially faced charges of taking more than $350,000 from the business over the course of her 10 years of employment with the company. However, Judge Nasshorn in May reduced the amount of the alleged theft to “$2,000 or more” instead of the $355,790 the veterinary hospital says she took.

The Bucks County District Attorney could only show a loss of as much as $50,000.

According to police, McLaughlin, 38, of Warminster, forged checks, abused company credit cards and overpayed herself on payroll as an employee. McLaughlin worked at the local veterinary hospital from 2001 to 2011 after she was fired for misappropriation of funds, police said.