Plea Agreement in FPFAC Case

Mary Strand, her attorney Vernon Woodward, and Valley County Attorney Nick Murnion have reached a plea agreement in the embezzlement case involving the Fort Peck Fine Arts Council. The agreement will be heard by the Court at a date yet to be determined.

Per the agreement, Strand will plead guilty to five felony charges, four for embezzlement and one for money laundering. In exchange she will be sentenced to five years in the Montana Department of Corrections, with all five years suspended for each count, and 30 days in the Valley County Detention Center. She will also pay fines in the amount of $5,000 ($1,000 for each count) and court fees in the amount of $800.

In addition, Strand will be ordered to pay over $16,000 in restitution to the FPFAC. The restitution amount takes into account the balance Strand has already paid back to the Council, according to Sheriff Glen Meier.

The plea agreement holds Strand to standard conditions, such as not consuming alcohol, not possessing firearms, and not affiliating with other known criminals. Any violation of the agreement could lead to a revisiting of her sentence, and potential jail time.

The agreement further calls for Strand to write apology letters to the FPFAC and the community of Glasgow, to be published in the Courier.