MONROE — A woman hired to perform accounting duties for a local construction company was sentenced to three years in prison Thursday.

Sarah Rachael May, 32, McFarland, pleaded guilty in late April to five of the 35 felony charges filed against her for embezzling nearly $700,000 from Stone Mill Construction in Monroe over two years with 96 forged checks. As part of her plea agreement, the remaining 30 felonies were dismissed but “read in,” meaning the judge could consider them during sentencing. 

Green County Court Judge Thomas Vale sentenced May to three years in prison, followed by five years of extended supervision and two probation terms of five years following the supervision. District Attorney Craig Nolen had recommended 10 years, one each equating to $70,000.

“I’m very disappointed and I’m confident that the victims are disappointed,” Nolen said after the sentencing Friday.

In court Thursday, Nolen informed the court the case was “pretty straight forward,” outlining how May stole nearly $700,000 in 25 months to lead a life filled with highly expensive salon trips, updates to her home and new furniture. Nolen added that cars were paid off, new ones were purchased, trips were taken throughout the country and that $45,000 in credit card debt was paid off for her husband. She wrote a rent and deposit check for her mother, Mary Astle, and wrote a check to her father Dan Astle for more than $1,000. Shealso paid money to her ex-husband Jason Wepking using fundsshe had embezzled. Nolen said May’s parents wrote letters in support of their daughter for the sentencing.

Nolen said the evidence shows someone addicted to gambling. However, he said she is also someone who lives a lifestyle above what she would have made as a successful accountant. He said financial records reflect that the embezzled money was also spent on May’s most recent wedding, at a diamond store, to reserve a reception space and to book a DJ.

Nolen said the state remains unsure how much was spent to supplement gambling, because records indicate May was paying off $1,000 in credit card debt every day. He said May was not truthful in the investigation and believes she is not a credible person. He also indicated May is an inattentive mother. 

Glenn Marquette, co-owner of Stone Mill Construction in Monroe, spoke directly to May during his time at the microphone. 

“You broke the company,” Marquette said. “You’ve not only stolen our past, you’ve stolen our future. You’ll be happy to know that, on a personal level, you stole my children’s college funds. You are the most evil, self-centered human I have ever met.”

He told May, who began crying as the case was discussed, she was only remorseful because she had been caught. 

In addition to stealing funds on hand, Marquette said May used the company credit line and even opened other accounts in the name of the business. May didn’t pay the vendors but wrote checks to herself, ruining the reputation of the company and leaving the business to lay off two long-term employees to make up the costs instead of expanding as it had planned, he said. He alluded to May’s attorney, Sarah Schmeiser, being hired with embezzled funds.

“We got the best Madison attorney our money could buy working against us,” Marquette said.

Owners discovered the embezzlement in the fall of 2016, but they held off on confronting May about it until they had time to hire an office manager who could take over accounting duties. Marquette said he was grateful he did not save a QuickBooks file May sent to cover up her activity, which would have overwritten a legitimate document. 

Schmeiser called on those involved with the case to focus on the facts, not “vitriolic attacks” and felt there was no reason to devolve to a personal vendetta. She said May has never denied any wrongdoing, and her client wouldn’t have support if she were neglectful toward her family, motioning toward the people sitting behind May.  

Roughly 34 people filled the courtroom, a handful wearing shirts displaying the Stone Mill Construction logo, others audibly voicing displeasure at negative language directed toward May.

Schmeiser called the investigation “incredibly thorough,” and said May has been working actively to repay the funds. So far, she has reduced the amount to $659,000. 

“All Sarah has done is express remorse,” Schmeiser said. “She’s horrified … she was basically trying to convince herself that she wasn’t capable of something like this.”

Schmeiser said May fell “into the magical thinking” she could pay the money back if she just won enough at a casino to repay the debt.

May delivered a short statement, pausing for noticeable intervals of silence as she continued to cry.

“I know that ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t change anything for any of you,” May said. “And it doesn’t make it right and it doesn’t make it better, but it’s all I can say right now.”

Vale agreed with Nolen that simply sentencing probation would “unduly depreciate” the impact of the crime but said if May were to be in prison for an extended amount of time, she would be unable to earn income to repay the sum she embezzled. 

May was ordered to repay the remaining amount at an annual rate of $20,000 and undergo counseling for her addictive behaviors. If she were to receive an inheritance or sell her home, the funds would go toward restitution.