Wife of Ohio sheriff sentenced to 3 years in prison

OTTAWA, Ohio (AP) — The wife of a northern Ohio sheriff has been sentenced to three years in prison after she pleaded guilty to stealing from the Ohio Farmers Union while she worked for the nonprofit organization.

A judge in Putnam County today also ordered Kathy Beutler to pay about $80,000 to her former employer in Ottawa.

She earlier had pleaded guilty to aggravated theft after being accused of stealing $260,000.

Her husband, Putnam County Sheriff James Beutler, has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Kathy Beutler has said that she took the money to pay for mounting credit card debts without the knowledge of her husband.