Batesville woman sentenced to prison for stealing from employer

(VERSAILLES, Ind.) – A Batesville woman has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to stealing from her employer. 

Indiana State Police investigators say Jennifer Fullenkamp stole more than $50,000 from Scheele Orthodontics in Batesville over the course of several years. 

“Fullenkamp enticed patients to pay in cash and gave substantial discounts if patients did, not authorized by Dr. Scheele. Fullenkamp then kept the cash and adjusted balances in [the] database concealing her thefts,” investigators said

She pleaded guilty to Theft in January and was sentenced this week to four years in the Department of Corrections. 

Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel said that the judge gave the harsh sentence because it is believed she had stolen well beyond $54,000 during her employment. 

The judge also found that there was damage to the reputation of Scheele Orthodontics, Hertel added. 

“My argument to the court was that you can’t take that amount of money and not go to prison,” Hertel told The 812. “I’m sympathetic to the family but this case was brought based on the defendant’s actions.”

The Indiana State Police were assisted in the investigation by the FBI, IRS and the Batesville Police Department.