Former Darien school bookkeeper sentenced for thefts

A former bookkeeper for Cass District 63 in Darien was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for looting the public school system's coffers.

Renee A. Spuhler, 48, of Montgomery stole $78,245.15 over four years to feed an alcohol and drug addiction while employed as an administrative assistant in charge of payroll.

Spuhler, who pleaded guilty to felony theft in June, faced either probation or up to 15 years in prison. She asked for mercy, but DuPage Circuit Judge Robert Anderson said her violation of the public's trust merits a prison term.

"You looted public funds on a systematic and calculated basis," Anderson said.

Prosecutor Helen Kapas-Erdman said the 17-year district employee used a variety of schemes to pocket the money, including giving herself extra paychecks, making unauthorized credit card transactions and writing checks out to cash.

Kapas-Erdman said the thefts led to canceled student programs and two failed referendum efforts for the small school system as it struggles to regain the public's confidence.

The thefts were discovered in late 2005. An apologetic Spuhler admitted stealing when confronted.

"I want to continue down my road of recovery and make amends for my wrongs," a tearful Spuhler said Monday before being sentenced. "There has not been a single day or minute of my life that goes by without this weighing heavily on my mind and heart."

Her attorney, Michelle Moore, argued Spuhler has accepted responsibility for her criminal conduct and does not belong in prison. Spuhler did not have a criminal record. She has sought out counseling and substance-abuse treatment.

Moore said Spuhler was overwrought with family problems and the stress of an up to 90-hour a week job at a time when the district grew some 40 percent without hiring more staff.

Most compelling, however, was Friday's testimony from the defendant's 10-year-old daughter, who asked the judge not to send her mother to prison.

"We're really best friends," the child testified. "I can tell her everything and she'll understand. She's a really great mom. I can't ask for a better mom. I really love her."

Spuhler will be eligible for parole after serving about half her prison term. She also must repay the school system for the stolen funds.