NORTH DAKOTA WOMAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR COMPUTER THEFTSWilliston Heraldfor computer thefts

By LeAnn Eckroth, Staff Writer
Sheri Gossage, 39, of Culbertson, Mont., was sentenced to 360 days in prison with the sentence suspended for three years for Class C felony theft of property Thursday in Northwest District Court.

She will pay $1,623 in restitution, $525 court fees and be subject to probation and drug testing during that period.

On March 8, Gossage pled guilty to stealing computers from Gaffaney's in Williston in 2001-2002 when she worked there as a computer sales representative. In court testimony Gossage admitted she had taken the computers and resold them in the new business she partners in, Focus Tech of Culbertson, to support her methamphetamine habit.

She testified that her partners at Focus Tech became suspicious of her behavior and confronted her. She then said she told them of her drug problem, and about what she had done to Gaffaney's. It was then she said she decided to tell Gaffaney's about the theft.

Gossage also alleged there had been a wage dispute between her and Gaffaney's and, misguided by the influence of methamphetamine at that time, she wrongly felt justified in taking the computer equipment to pay for her meth habit.

Northwest District Judge Gerald Rustad's ruling allows the felony conviction to be reduced to a misdemeanor if Gossage meets all court requirements and has no criminal convictions within the next three years.

Assistance States Attorney Marlyce Wilder prosecuted the case. Williston attorney Jeff Nehring defended Gossage.

Nehring asked for a deferred imposition sentence because a felony record for Gossage would impair chances of her business obtaining government contracts. He said she has taken serious steps to recover from her methamphetamine abuse, and has been drug-free for nearly two years.

Three others from the Culbertson community came to Gossage's defense, saying they had known her before the drug use and recognized there was some type of problem due to her inattentive and sometimes grandiose behavior while using meth.

Some said during this time they would not let their children play at the Gossage home for fear of no supervision, but would let her son play at theirs. They countered saying now that Gossage has gone through two phases of recovery programs and been clean for nearly two years, they trust her with their children.

Wilder said that Gaffaney's business was hurt by the thefts and was the real victim of the crime. She asked for a three-year suspended sentence for the felony crime with the mandatory drug testing and probation requirements. She reminded the court it was not a one-time incident, but over a long period of time and several computers were involved.

Testimony also revealed Gossage is the sister of Valerie Barrett who recently received a 30-day sentence for aggravated reckless driving. Barrett claimed it was her sister who got her hooked on methamphetamine. Barrett had testified she was under the influence of methamphetamine when she drove a school bus airborne that had four New Public School District No. 8 students aboard, causing minor injuries to the students.

Methamphetamine materials also were found after the bus accident at Barrett's farmstead.