Cody Woman Sent to Prison for Embezzling More Than $30K

CODY, Wyo. (AP) — A 44-year-old woman has been sentenced to three-to-five years in prison followed by five years of probation for stealing more than $30,000 from a Cody businessman in 2016 and 2017.

Joy Barela of Cody was sentenced recently by District Judge Bill Simpson.

Barela was accused of embezzling money while she was a bookkeeper for the businessman.

And prosecutors noted that it wasn't Barela's first brush with the law, saying she defrauded two other employers roughly 15 years ago.

Barela's court-appointed defense attorney, Tim Blatt, suggested that his client may struggle with a disorder like kleptomania and said those issues should be addressed.

The judge urged Barela to seek counseling while at the Wyoming Women's Center in Lusk.