Former employee at Bishop Animal Shelter in Manatee charged with stealing more than $66,000

BRADENTON -- A former employee at Bishop Animal Shelter, who recently was hired at Manatee County Animal Services, has been arrested and charged with stealing more than $66,000 in cash from donations and adoptions, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Gail Lynne Judah, 47, was arrested by detectives Wednesday morning and charged with scheme to defraud, according to a news release.

Judah is being held at the Manatee County jail on a $50,000 bond.

The sheriff's office began its investigation earlier this month after Bishop requested it. Ju

dah was fired from her job as office manager at Bishop last year. She was accused of taking money since 2008.

"They did a lot of the work on it and presented the paperwork to us," sheriff's office spokesman Dave Bristow said. "It made our job that much easier."

The sheriff's office has not yet revealed where the money was spent.

"She said she was having some financial issues," Bristow said.

The Bishop shelter is closed Wednesdays, but spokeswoman Samantha Dominis issued a statement.

"Bishop Animal Shelter is aware of the situation involving a previous employee. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office is handling the case," Dominis stated. "Due to this unfortunate incident we have changed our procedures and protocol for handling money. We hope this incident involving a previous Bishop employee does not infringe on future adoptions and donations."

Paperwork from Bishop revealed cash missing from donations and adoptions from 2008-15. Judah was reportedly the only employee to have access to the proceeds from donations and adoptions, according to the release.

The investigation found Judah altered the weekly books to show less cash coming in by omitting donations and adoptions, according to the sheriff's office.

Manatee County spokesman Nicholas Azzara said Judah was hired last April and because she was still within a one-year probation period, she will be terminated.

Judah's criminal history includes two prior misdemeanor convictions for obtaining property in return for a worthless check in 1999 for which she served probation. In 1996, she pleaded no contest to a felony count of grand theft between $300 and $5,000. That conviction was withheld and she served probation.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 11:59 PM with the headline "Former employee at Bishop Animal Shelter in Manatee charged with stealing more than $66,000 ."