Sherry Gatke

KOSCIUSKO — A Warsaw woman was sentenced today, Thursday, April 19, after stealing $88,185 while working as a manager at one of the Wilby’s stores in Kosciusko County.

Sherry Lynn Gatke, 504 W. Center St., Warsaw, was charged with three counts of theft, all level 6 felonies.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Aug. 10, 2017, officers met with Wilby’s president and a general manager after they discovered shortages in the financial records of one of their stores. They were discovered between July 2016 and July 2017.

Wilby’s president stated that by comparing the daily tapes of all transactions from the registers with computer entries of taxable goods, there were financial shortages.

The shortages were discovered on forms initialed by Gatke, and that they occurred only when she was working. Gatke told officers that she used the money to pay bills, with some being given to her son, who was incarcerated at the time.

“I would like to apologize to the company [Wilby’s] for my misbehavior,” Gatke said. “I’m just slowly trying to pick myself back up and I’m apologetic for what I’ve done.”

Judge David Cates mentioned that this is Gatke’s third felony conviction.

“Maybe you ought to quit committing crimes, period,” Cates said.

Cates sentenced Gatke to four years in the Kosciusko County Jail, with three years being suspended. So long as she remains qualified, she can serve the three years through work release or community corrections.

Gatke will also have to pay $65,685 in restitution.