gee- that's a pretty sweet deal. If everyone got treated this way there'd be no prison overcrowding.

If she's in prison for 37 months how can she gamble?

Another one bit by the boat. Sad......

there's lots of gambling in prison. it's just not for money. it's for food, stamps, or um...."favors."

Geez why rob a gas station and get 5-7 years when you can steal from the people you are sworn to protect and only get 3 years. Sounds real fair to me.

What about the cremains she kept in the file cabinet? Does she get to walk free on those crimes?

I don't know if any of you know Bonnie Sue, but I have known her casually for about 30 years. There is no doubt what she did was wrong and yes she deserves to be punished but this is another example of the stupidity of our justice system.
She has up until this incident been a fine and caring person, leading a normal life of ups and downs like we all have.
At her age wouldn't it be much more reasonable to sentence her to house arrest where she could be monitored but allowed to work toward repaying the money at the same time.

DMS2007 the answer is NO , she stole from people who depended on her to take of the because they are unable to take care of themself. If I remember her salary was over 100,000 a year and she was stealing from their social security and disability payments.I bet that those people aren't gonna see a dime of their money back.She deserves WAY more time than she got.

the woman is an addict. she stole to support that addiction.

i was stunned to see that photo on kq2 of the state in which she left the public administrator office. clearly this woman's life was unravelling. did no one ever go down to that office?

a prison term is clearly indicated. so is counseling for her gambling addiction.

I know Bonnie Sue also and as much as I hate to see a woman that is my mother's age go to prison, it is deserved. I am also glad that they finally changed the format of that office, there was always too much opportunity for this kind of corruption and obviously no one looking over the shoulder of the public administrator until it was too late.
As for the cremains, too much was made of that. The people were cremated because that was the least expensive way to dispose of their remains with taxpayer money. There was no one apparently to care and she should have just thrown them away instead of leaving them around to take up space. Before anyone freaks, let me say, if those were my ashes and it was left to the state to dispose of my body after I died, yes please throw them away. If it was my family member's ashes? They wouldn't have been there, as we are fortunate enough to be able to take care of ourselves. Ashes are nothing to me.

People steal money because they think they can get away with it. Some feel they need it, or deserve it.

As far as the motives, everyone talks about the gambling, but no one focuses on the rest of her lifestyle. The properties that she maintained, the furnishings, the services to maintain those properties...that cost money. What about the nice meals, decent wardrobe or those types of things? I at one point worked for a company that provided some of those services, and I know I had seen her out in town eating at more expensive locations.

I imagine she stole because she wanted to maintain a better lifestyle than she could afford, moreso than any one particular addiction.

I am so glad to hear after many years of wondering... This lady was in full control of my grand-dads probate..She got a very large amount of money and we got nothing.. I guess she is getting hers now! whew hoo bad carma come to thoes who deserve it!

Can she be sued by the victims of this crime? Could all of the things that were aquired during her crime spree be taken and used to pay what she owes?

DSN2007:Bonnie's age sure didn't stop her from shopping, gambling, or stealing did it? Why should it have any factor on she punishment? She sure didn't take into account the ages or disabilities from those she stole from, now did she? And "at her age" as you put it, she is certainly old enough to KNOW BETTER!! Are you seriously suggesting she be put on house arrest and monitored to repay the restitution? If she couldn't fulfill her duties as Public Administrator what in the world could possibly make you think she is responsible enough to do that???? Obviously, following rules and obeying laws are things she cannot do successfully. I do agree with you on one thing, this is another example of the stupidity of our justice system because Bonnie deserves way more than she's getting. It is ridiculous and stupid just like your comment.

FINALLY she is kind of getting half of what she deserves! Those clients of hers will NEVER understand what happened. they are the most loving people. I myself thinks she should be locked up alot longer then 37 months. She is a commen crimanal and most thives sure do get alot more time then she got. Its just sad to see that somebody those innocent people look up to could do this. Gambling had nothing to do with it. She wanted to look like she was better then everybody else. When the truth is she is just another low life!

I agree with the comments that state her sentence is too lenient.

As far as expecting entertainment venues, vendors, contractors, or other business establishments to know that a person is illegally supplementing their income is a little unrealistic. She had an excellent paying job, and was at an age that it was reasonable to believe she had a lifetime of savings to spend.

We were working on a property that I was told was owned by Bonnie Sue, and I commented "must be nice to have money." My co-worker speculated that she probably has her hand in the till.

We had no basis for that statement, no factual proof of any type whatsoever. It was just idle speculation. That office lacked oversight, and gave a person an opportunity to enhance their lifestyle.

My point is is that idle speculation, while it may end up being true, is no basis for an investigation. Other people had to be in a position to know, or reasonably suspect that this was going on. And it took years of complaints to finally bring about legal charges.

DMS2007- maybe you would rather she live in the same 'condition' of those she was responsible of taking care of? Since you've known her for 30 years do you think she could survive like that? At least she will be taken care of with a warm place to live, 3 meals a day, medical and dental care.
She can't even apologize for what she has done. There are several 'dead-beat' dads in jail that have said the same thing "How can I pay if I'm locked up". Boo-Hoo

Entertainment venues, contractors, and vendors don't have a running tally of what you have lost and spent. Several years back, a woman in KC jumped into one of the moats and killed herself. She had a pending embezzelment case and was found to have stolen another 80 grand to feed the slots.How did we know that?? The Casino provided what she had spent and lost, and knew her well. It does not make the Casino here responsible, or is it their burden to determine where all the money is coming from when it is obvious that a person is way over reasonable limits. And most people that work on the boat knew who she was and what position she held. It is not about the legal end of it..but a pretty solid commentary about what that casino cares about.

I enjoy gambling, but haven't been to the St Joe Casino since it was really a Boat.I would prefer to drive to KC before taking a beating in that place. And it does boil down to personal responsibilty.But people like myself can pretty much see what happened, and like the guy that suspected her hand in the till...I know that had to be known by the Boat to. It doesn't take a genius to put 2 and 2 together.But their lack of action pretty much says what their priorties are in St Joe.

In the 1850's my greatgreatgreat grandfather was the first judge in this county. The history books say he held court under a large tree and from his decision there was no appeal. The first recorded trials in this county were held at Robidoux cabin and the name of the town at that time of course was Blacksnake. These records I have seen. One of the first trials held in Buchannan County was for a man accused of gambling in public. The verdict was to take the man to the county line,tell him to go and never come back. Unfortunately, the casino is not to blame in this case. It is the people who voted the casino in. Or blame the tax hungry politicians or the public in general for their lacks of values, or lack of ANYTHING BETTER TO DO WITH THEIR FREE TIME AND MONEY.

Every form she filled out to report the use of the money for each case says that the penalty for false information is ten years in federal prison.
I wonder how many of these forms she signed, knowing full well she was not being truthful and seeing that penalty warning?
Social Security decides who has to have a "protective payee" and the clients are fully at the mercy of that payee. Many are not even allowed to talk to Social Security themselves and their attempts to report being stolen from are dismissed as imaginary adding insult to injury.
Social security should repay the clients, and throw the full sentances on Bonnie. Every ten years they can pull out another fraudulently completed form, tell her the name and start the next sentance.
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

I think they should take her property home, car personal items and auction them off do her just like she did the people she was suppose to be helping. Strip her of her social security, medicare benefits etc. I agree she should be locked up 10 years for each piece of paper she signed she is the WORST kind of offender and should be punished to the full extent of the law. She showed absolutely no remorse in court and thought they should let her stay free so she could pay her restitution! I DON'T THINK SO! This may sound cold hearted to some but she by no means got exactly what she deserved. At least she will have 3 hot meals a day a bed to sleep in she may be wearing prison garb which I might add is recycled they just wash it and give it to the next one coming in the door how fitting for someone who put on such airs!

SHE GOT OFF WITH FREAKING 37 MTHS? WHAT IS OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM COMING TOO? BECAUSE OF BONNIE TWO VERY GOOD FRIENDS, UPSTANDING CITIZENS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON HOLD FOR 3 YRS. TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR GRANDMOTHER WHO HAD ALZHEIMERS, TOOK TURNS STAYING UP ALL NIGHT, RUSHED HER TO THE HOSPITAL WHEN SHE HAD FALLEN AND BECAUSE OF MRS LAWSONS SUPPOSED GUIDANCE AND ADVICE IN TELLING THEM TO DO THIS AND THAT...THESE PEOPLE WERE CONVICTED OF ABUSING THEIR GRANDMOTHER AND HER MONEY BECAUSE OF WHAT BONNIE TOLD THEM TO DO! THEY WENT TO PRISON FOR 2 YRS! THEY WILL NEVER GET THAT TWO YRS BACK. BONNIE WAS SELFISH AND I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD OF A FRIEND SHE WAS TO SOME OF YOU...SHE HAS RUINED SO MANY LIVES AND NOT EVEN AN APOLOGY WAS GIVEN. Now her attempting to pay some of the money back? please...This women obviously hasn't got a conscience. How would she feel if it was one of her relatives? As it seems she probably stole from her own family! I think everything she has should be taken from her! She should have to personally face every single person she stole from...I also think she should have to pay for these peoples care for the rest of their lives if they are still alive. Then she should be made to attend any funeral of the victims and think about how they're lives could of been possibly longer...who knows if that money she stole caused them to not get the medicine they needed or maybe they couldn't eat...any of these things could of prolonged their lives. I bet she never thought of that. Why she was out gambling or buying whatever she wanted to make her look "pretty" I wonder how many people layed in pain because they didn't have the money she stole to buy their medicine they needed or food to put in their stomachs! Whomever decided on her sentence should take a long hard look at the impact Bonnie had on these people. I hope and pray she is miserable.Yes everyone makes mistakes but to take from people who trusted her with their life! Shame on you Bonnie and you should be very ashamed!

This is exactly why everyone needs to do estate planning. Go to the library and check out a book on Living Trusts.
I am NOT defending Bonnie Lawson, but she was working on a commission bases. The public administrator's office should have been a salary county position. I remember rummors about other public administrators. My point is that NO one should ever allow themselves to be put into a position of having their property probated, or their affairs managed by the public administrator. Wills have to be probated, and the courts and attorneys get paid FIRST.

I've known Bonnie for over 40 yrs. and know that she has always been a good person but for some reason (depression most likely)without help. So she began to gamble and that of course is no ones fault but her own and should have never started. Just out of control thinking probably that she could put it back which isn't rational thinking either. Where are the audits the checks and balances so that things like this can't happen? I myself said to my sister that with her picture up at the boat winning etc. etc. and going so often as she did that even if nothing was going on it sure didn't look very good. So, where was everyone isn't there anyone to keep an eye out for this type of happenings? I also must say that with some of you wanting her to spend the rest of her life in prison for what has happened yet in THIS town how many little children have been killed by some womens boyfriend and as for their sentences it's nothing more than a slap on the wrist, and the so called mothers of these children don't get anything for what has happened to their child. It doesn't surprise me because it does seem that people think money is worth more than a childs life.

The old saying is walk in this persons shoes before wanting to give her a life sentence. It wasn't right what she has done and I'm not condoning it for one minute but I think the whole place should be checked and double checked all the time so that something like this can't happen.

Addiction to anything is a horrible thing and always turns people into a different person than they normally are and never for the better.

No one thinks that money is more important then a child but her crime rates right up there with those because some of those people where children, disabled adults and seniors you know elderly abuse and negelect then ther is the misappropriation of funds, fraud stealing be deceit oh and lets not forget about the human remains she had locked up in a cabinet the list goes on and on. FEDERAL COURT is where she was tried not LOCAL and I hope she has a fine time in the Federal Prison because she will receive better care there then she gave to those she was suppose to be helping. Then to make the comment, “I would like to say that I really did work hard for those folks that I took care of.” Yeah she worked hard alright, hard at stealing their money and property. I just wonder where the households full of furniture, guns and antiques are that belonged to those people I bet they are either in her home or she has sold them for cash to keep up her high rolling life style.

Bonnie Sue is a liar, thief and new EXACTLY what she was doing. She told me as part of her job, she would have to go in to people's homes who passed away and had no family and "secure" the deceased valuable belongings. She "secured" them very well on her neck, fingers, wrists and ears. I don't think she could have fit another ring on ANY finger. How sad to think these poor people she was to be protecting had to suffer due to her selfishness. 37 months in prison is NOTHING. I for one have dealt with her on numerous occassions. She lied to me, our family and only caused more grief. She should NEVER be allowed out of prison - much less to ever see HER family, son, grandchildren, etc. She should be put in an isolated cell, fed bread and water for the rest of her life. She might have time to think about her actions. She cared about HER and not anyone else. She was at the "Boat" on a daily basis. I'd even go there if I needed to speak to her because she was rarely found at the office. She has shown absolutely no remorse for what she's done, not even an apology. If she needs medication while in prison, I hope she gets what she deserves - NONE! Maybe she'll realize how many people suffered because their money went into a slot machine instead of medication her clients needed. God will get her........may she rot in HELL.