Waitress sentenced for stealing over $13,000 from tavern’s Keno system.

Ebner

Waitress sentenced for stealing over $13,000 from tavern’s Keno system.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

HART — A 40-year-old Pentwater woman was ordered to pay $14,598 in restitution for a felony conviction of embezzlement in 27th Circuit Court Monday. Oct. 18.

Kylie Jean Ebner, of 3431 West Jefferson Rd., stole money from the Keno system while working as a waitress and manager at Murphy’s Tavern on 80th Avenue in Pentwater, said Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon. 

Judge Robert D. Springstead sentenced Ebner to 45 days in jail with credit for one day served and three years probation. 

“This isn’t a single act of impulse,” said Judge Springstead. “It’s clear to the court and from the report this was going on over an extended period of time, several times per shift. Ms. Ebner, you certainly had the option at any time to stop. If you have a gambling problem, there is help that is available for that. You continued to steal from your employer every day, and we’re talking $13,000 plus that you stole from your employer who trusted you.”

The judge ordered that Ebner pay the $14,598 in total restitution — which includes an $800 audit fee incurred by bar owner Michael Buck — by the end of her probation. The amount of money she embezzled totaled $13,798, said Prosecutor Bizon. “The charges were based on what we believed we could prove from January through June of 2020.”

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