(Spirit Lake)– The former director of the Before and After School Services program was sentenced this (Tues.) morning in Dickinson County District Court.
Margaret “Meg” Waltz entered an Alford plea previously to a charge of theft in the first degree for improperly spending hundreds of thousands of dollars. The money, most it in the form of grants from the state, was spent on personal luxury items.
Judge David Lester imposed a suspended 10 year prison sentence and placed Waltz on five years probation. Several conditions were attached, including that she pay restitution of $401,743.37 to the Iowa Department of Human Services; that she obtain full-time employment; and that she obtain a $500,000 life insurance policy naming the state Department of Human Services as the beneficiary.
Appearing before the judge, Waltz, who became very emotional, pleaded for leniency, stating her family wouldn’t hold together if she was to serve prison time. She also apologized for the impact her actions on the community and the kids that were served by the BASS program.
