IT’S A CASE that, strangely, hasn’t attracted much public attention. Mostly murmurings, whispering.
An embezzlement case. More than $280,000 missing, according to the victim, Dr. Heidi Johnson, the owner of Superior Eye Health and Vision Therapy in Marquette Township.
The defendant in the case is a former employee, Jamie Tasson of Ishpeming. An attempt to reach her for comment has so far been unsuccessful. She’s reportedly moved downstate.
She was arraigned on six criminal counts last month–embezzlement, forgery, computer fraud, credit card fraud. Her next court hearing is next week.
Dr. Johnson says Tasson worked for her for five years. They were friends. Trusted friends.
But then last winter, Dr. Johnson suspected something just wasn’t right. Huge credit card debt on cards in her name that she knew nothing about. Tasson was confronted with the allegations and fired, and the criminal case began.
Marquette County Prosecutor Matt Wiese says his first priority is to get restitution for the victim, but Tasson could face several years in prison if convicted. Wiese says the defendant’s history, the circumstances, and any mitigating factors will be considered in the case.
Again, these are only charges at this point. A trial date hasn’t been set yet.
But at the very least, it’s a sad commentary on a friendship and an employer/employee relationship that went awry. To the alleged tune of almost $300,000.
Dr. Johnson assures her clients, by the way, that none of the alleged billing malfeasance involved any of them. That’s been checked. Their billing looks fine. The only victim in this case, if it’s proven, was Dr. Johnson herself.
IF YOU’RE A Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity fan, you’ve no doubt been upset by what’s been happening for the last three weeks on WDMJ (1320 AM), the local radio home of their shows.
At first, you heard nothing but dead air between noon and six, when their shows were to air, but now you’re hearing music. Oldies.
No surprise here. It’s a contract dispute. Keith Neve, the COO for Sovereign Communications which owns the station, says Premiere Networks, which provides the Limbaugh and Hannity shows, has a few disagreements with Sovereign that they haven’t been able to resolve.
Neve hopes to fix it soon and get their two stars back on the air.
Meantime, though, Limbaugh and Hannity fans will have to get their fix of political commentary elsewhere while snapping their fingers to the comforting rhythms of yesteryear on WDMJ.
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