Jury Convicts Wichita Resident of Felony Theft

        Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces today a jury convicted Wichita resident Erica C. Ricke, 32, of felony theft of more than $25,000 and less than $100,000.

        The evidence presented at trial was that Ms. Ricke was a former office manager at Gage Management and during that time, she was responsible for accepting rent checks and making deposits.  Between July 1, 2009 and November 2011, she pocketed thousands of dollars of rent payments through a series of financial transactions.  The theft came to the attention of the owner of Gage Management in 2011 and he reported it to law enforcement. 

        The trial began on Monday, September 29.  Attorneys delivered closing arguments today at 1:00 p.m. and the case went to the jury at approximately 1:50 p.m.  The jury deliberated for about two hours before reaching its verdict.

        Depending on her prior criminal history, Ms. Ricke faces 11 to 34 months in the custody of the Secretary of Corrections.  Kansas Sentencing Guidelines identify this conviction as a level seven severity case and mark it as a presumptive probation case.  The Court scheduled sentencing for November 4 at 8:30 a.m.

        The Honorable Robert W. Fairchild presided over the case.  Lawrence Police Department detectives investigated it and Assistant District Attorney Catherine Decena prosecuted it.

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