March 28, 2024

Woman who stole to gamble gets year of probation

OSAGE — An Osage woman accused of stealing from her mother to gamble at a local casino has been given probation.

Marilyn Spartz was sentenced last week to a year of probation. A $625 fine and a 30-day jail sentence were suspended. Spartz had pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft after prosecutors dropped a charge of felony theft.

Police say she took more than $2,300 from her mother’s account to gamble at a casino, as well as to buy a bus ticket for her boyfriend to travel to Iowa.

Police say the theft was uncovered after Spartz’s mother’s health insurance plan was canceled for nonpayment after the mother’s checking account was drained. The rehabilitation center caring for the woman contacted the Iowa Department of Human Services, and an investigation was launched.