The alleged culprit in Howard?s largest embezzlement case to date voluntarily surrendered to the county Sheriff?s Office this morning before appearing in court for a bail review hearing.
Christine McClain-Sloan has been charged in a six-year theft scheme in which she is accused of stealing more than $700,000 from her former employer, Nagle & Zaller P.C., a Columbia law firm.
Howard Circuit Court Judge Dennis Sweeney granted McClain-Sloan?s request to return to her residence in Lexington, Ky., while awaiting her January criminal trial date.
McClain-Sloan?s attorney, Michael Epstein, told the judge his client, who has two children, would not flee the country.
“She?s not going to up and run with these two children,” Epstein said.
McClain-Sloan also wanted to be near her father in Kentucky, who has a brain tumor, he said.
State?s Attorney Lynn Marshall opposed McClain-Sloan?s request, asking the judge to raise the $75,000 bond substantially if he let her return to Kentucky.
“Based on everything we know about the defendant and her past behavior, we don?t trust her,” Marshall said.
“For six years, she was very manipulative.”
Marshall alleged the stolen money was used to improve McClain-Sloan?s houses in Maryland and possibly to purchase a new house in Kentucky. The law firm filed a civil lawsuit in May that led to criminal charges.
The judge did not increase the bond but required McClain-Sloan to post $2,500 cash to the court clerk for any potential extraction fees.
“It is unfortunate that some people put into a position of trust choose to violate that trust ? and the law ? for monetary gain,” Nagle and Zaller said in a news release.
McClain-Sloan left the firm prior to an investigation by an insurance company. She now works on a thoroughbred horse farm in Kentucky.
AT A GLANCE
Christine McClain-Sloan allegedly:
» Wrote checks on Nagle & Zaller P.C.?s accounts to benefit herself or her family;
» Made personal purchases with the law firm?s credit card;
» Pocketed cash that was to be deposited into the firm?s accounts.
Source: Court documents filed by Nagle & Zaller P.C. in May
