The wife of a former Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputy whom prosecutors say helped her husband steal taxpayer money from the department learned her fate Monday in court. The judge sentenced Karen Eames to six months in prison and five years probation.
Eames appeared in court with her arm in a sling as she stood before Judge Ted Limpert. Before committing suicide, her husband Isaac Eames shot and killed his son Troy, and severely injured his wife by shooting her in the face. It was a case that shook the Clay community where Karen Eames once worked at Liverpool High School.
“Your honor, I am sorry for my part in this. I have never done anything like this before and never will, again," Eames told the judge. "After the fact, I simply went along with something I should not have. This was out of my character for me and from the date to this came light, I have done everything in my power to make this right. The punishment my husband imposed upon me and my son, Troy is something that will remain with me for the rest of my life... of this wrongdoing. I am sorry to everyone involved and I hope you can consider this, upon my sentencing. Thank you, your Honor.”
Eames attorney, Michael Vavonese, argued she already has endured an insurmountable amount of pain.
“I don’t think I would truly be fulfilling my obligations as her attorney if I did not note, that the unthinkable set of circumstances that occurred in this matter as a result of the theft by Isaac that was imposed upon Karen and her son is far beyond any punishment for her part in this matter with respect of benefitting from the stolen funds," Vavonese said.
Judge Limpert told Eames a text message he reviewed between her and her husband where she sent a smiley emoji demonstrated she could have stopped the thefts. County Assistant District Attorney Peter Hakes is disappointed with the short prison term.
“I’m frustrated because she got a windfall," Hakes said. "She invested $300,000 of taxpayer money and turned it into five [hundred thousand]. And she gets to keep the extra and that, to me, is frustrating to see. But, when I keep my focus on where it is; we were able to recover for the taxpayers.”
The stolen money of just more than $529,000 was returned Monday morning as restitution along with another reimbursement check of nearly $78,000 in public donations received from a Go Fund Me online campaign following the tragedy. There's no word on how that will be refunded to donors.
