North Dakota Woman Gets Deferred Sentence for $17K Theft

A North Dakota woman who was accused of stealing almost $17,000 from the Devils Lake insurance agency where she worked has been given a one-year deferred sentence.

Melodi Newgren will have the offense wiped from her record if she doesn’t get into trouble for the next year.

Northeast District Judge Lee Christofferson sentenced the 55-year-old Newgren on Tuesday. She also must pay $2,000 in restitution and $300 in fees.

Newgren pleaded guilty last February to a misdemeanor charge of misapplication of entrusted property. She had been facing a possible penalty of a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Court records say Newgren kept premium payments that customers made on insurance policies and didn’t forward them to the company.