Lynn M. Tomlinson says she’s already apologized to the Catholic diocese... now she’s going to have to pay them back about $300,000 ... when she gets out of jail

In a move described as “uncharacteristic” of the otherwise good- hearted former secretary at Holy Sepulcher Catholic School, Tomlinson, 46, stole fund-raising money and students’ tuition over a course of about four years.

Tomlinson, who pleaded guilty to third-degree felony theft and tampering with records, was sentenced Thursday by Butler County Judge William Shaffer.

She will serve 9 to 18 months in jail, followed by a decade of probation and 100 hours of community service.

“You owe a lot of money,” the judge said of the lengthy probationary term in which the defendant will have to pay $1,000 to Holy Sepulcher, $249,000 to the diocese and $49,879 to an insurance carrier. Court records say the defendant used the stolen money to buy jewelry and clothes

According to court records, Tomlinson after her arrest told investigators she “got carried away with the spending...”

Read a full report in Friday’s Butler Eagle.