BELFAST — A Belmont woman was sentenced to two years in prison with all but six months suspended for theft by unauthorized taking or transfer in Waldo County Criminal Unified Court Sept. 26.

Kari M. Drake, 39, was sentenced for the theft of over $14,000 from Sweet Frog last year, while she was acting as the Belfast location’s general manager. She will also serve two years of probation, and must pay $14,730.70 in restitution as a part of her sentence.

Drake was employed at the frozen yogurt shop from April 2016 through December of the same year when she was fired, according to court documents.

The thefts took place between September and her December firing, when a district manager discovered the missing deposits.

When confronted Drake initially claimed she had taken the missing deposits home with her, which had then been destroyed in a small house fire, reports said. The district manager reportedly found the explanation suspicious since it is against Sweet Frog policy for any employee to take money home from the store. His suspicions were reported to the Belfast Police Department, and Drake later admitted the story was untrue. 

Over the course of her time as manager there were 76 deposits unaccounted for. 

Drake is expected to begin serving her sentence Jan. 1.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com