To the applause of a standing-room-only crowd of Sister Barbara Markey's supporters, the Nebraska Board of Parole released her today with smiles, plaudits and a single admonition: No casinos.
Markey, a 75-year-old Roman Catholic nun, had been convicted July 11, 2008, of felony theft.
Prosecutors and the Archdiocese of Omaha had accused her of embezzling more than $250,000 and gambling away much of it.
Expecting probation, Markey had pleaded guilty to felony theft by deception of over $1,500 and agreed to pay $125,000 in restitution, although she disputed the archdiocese and prosecution claims.
Even as she entered her plea in 2008, she told Douglas County District Judge Thomas Otepka that she was not admitting to everything prosecutors said she did.
Otepka shocked Markey and her lawyers by sentencing her to three to five years in prison. She has been on work release from the Omaha Community Corrections Center for most of the ensuing 18 months.
Today was the earliest possible date Markey could have been paroled.
More than 30 people, including former Boys Town executive director the Rev. Val Peter and at least two other priests, packed a Community Corrections Center hearing room today to support Markey, former director of the Catholic Family Life Office in Omaha.
Parole Board member James A. Pearson said it was one of the largest supportive crowds he had seen in 14 years of hearings.
But the support wasn't needed to sway the board. They came into the meeting ready to parole Markey, and no one attended the hearing to oppose her release. The board took no testimony, except from Markey.
Pearson noted that Markey had excellent work reports from St. John's Catholic Church at Creighton University, where she has been serving as a pastoral assistant on work release.
Pearson said Markey's corrections record showed one instance of minor misconduct, for which she was verbally reprimanded.
Board members noted that Markey helped with a Nebraska Department of Corrections education program for inmates.
“Thank you very much,” board member Esther L. Casmer said. “Education is the key to success.”
Under the conditions of her parole, Markey must attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings. She's banned from Council Bluffs casinos. With good behavior, she could be released from parole by year's end.
Markey told the board she'll live at the Notre Dame Sisters convent in Omaha. She said she'll continue working at St. John's for now, but will see where God leads her.
She smiled and applauded the board as their votes were read. After the hearing, Markey said, “I'm glad for this to be finished.”
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