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A Warren County woman accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from her former employers is headed back to jail and into the Court of Common Pleas system.
On Tuesday, Brenda L. Gibson, 58, of Pittsfield, was before District Judge Todd Woodin for a preliminary hearing and a hearing on a motion to modify bail.
Gibson waived the preliminary hearing. According to Woodin, that is not an acknowledgment of guilt.
At a preliminary hearing, the prosecution must present evidence that shows that a crime was committed and that the defendant is most likely the person who committed it.
By waiving the hearing, Gibson "acknowledged there's enough evidence to bind this over to the trial court -- the next stage," Woodin told her.
Formal arraignment is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 10.
With the preliminary waived, the parties moved into a bail hearing.
Gibson was arraigned in October before Woodin and released on $250,000 unsecured bail.
She faces 13 felonies and three misdemeanors related to allegations that she stole $134,000 from Dyke's Garage in Bear Lake, where she was employed for 16 years, and $325,000 from Deerfield Township, where she had been secretary/treasurer for six years.
A bail modification hearing was called by Woodin last week, according to court documents, based on concerns that Gibson would not appear for further court action.
That hearing was held Monday, Feb. 7, and Woodin changed the bail from $250,000 unsecured to $250,000 cash.
On Monday, Gibson's attorney, Stephen Sebald, asked that Woodin "reinstate" a high amount of unsecured bail.
"I don't think she was ever a flight risk," Sebald said. "I believe that she's followed everything she's supposed to do."
He said Gibson is suffering from some physical and mental ailments that have been exacerbated by imprisonment.
"The Commonwealth would object to any reinstatement of bond," Deputy Attorney General Evan Lowry II said.
He said the prosecution has not received any documentation regarding Gibson's alleged ailments.
Woodin explained his previous modification of bail during the hearing and then denied the motion.
"The court had concerns about general availability," he said. "I don't feel comfortable changing it back. I would urge you to file your motion with the Court of Common Pleas."