INDIANAPOLIS - A former Marion County Clerk employee has been sentenced to one year of home detention for stealing more than $8,000 over a period of two years. 

It was money the clerk's office collects from people on probation and for child support. 

The deputy prosecutor called the crime a violation of the public trust. The defendant must make full restitution of the ill-gotten gain.  

Sheila Lang, 65, worked for the clerk's office for 19 years, but she said she didn't begin stealing until 2009.

Lang stole money 39 times, mostly in small amounts, she said, for a little extra cash to survive. But prosecutors said she admitted going on vacation with some of the money.

"Each year, per her own mouth, she spent approximately $1,000 going to Las Vegas every year and at least $200 going to Myrtle Beach," said Deputy Prosecutor Marielle Vincent. "Considering it averaged three or four years and the total amount taken was nearly $9,000, it strikes me as odd she was claiming she needed that money for survival."

Lang told the court, "I'm deeply ashamed for what I have done. I know it was wrong. I'm sorry. I'm more than willing to pay the money back." Her attorney admits paying that money back will be a tough chore.

"It's going to be hard for her at age 65 in this economy to find employment, but she has already come up with part of the restitution prior to today," said Lang's attorney Alan Ladd.
  
The clerk's office has installed a full complement of cameras to keep a watchful on employees to prevent this from happening again.

"You never say never," said Scott Hohl, chief deputy in the county clerk's office. "We do everything we can through audits, internal controls and now cameras as well, to ensure that the public's money that comes through our office goes where it is intended to go."

Lang must perform 150 hours of community service, and she cannot appeal the sentence.
Lang had no prior criminal history.