Judge made a sound decision
Although the Clyde-Green Springs Exempted School District residents have not received any money back yet from the $300,000 stolen by Todd Helms, overall we should take solace in the fact that this felon was sentenced.
Judge Barbara Ansted in total handed down 28 years in sentences for the 10 counts that Helms pled guilty to, but from the start it seemed that most would run concurrently.
When Ansted announced that the former school officials would serve eight years for the most serious charge he confessed to - the full possible for that second-degree felony – it was a relief.
Since July 2008 many people have made suggestions as to sentences and punishments they believed were fitting for Helms, but when all the information was in it seemed obvious he would serve eight years of less.
Judge Ansted called allowing all the charges to be served concurrently the “grace” of the court.
Her eight-year sentence, which will allow for judicial release after five years in prison for Helms, was a just and sensible sentence.
The Helms case had been hanging over the heads of local school leaders and the community since July 2008. It is time for all of us to move on as Mr. Helms moves into his new state prison residence, but this case will now move into the restitution stages to see how much the district can recover. We hope every dollar.
In the meantime, we need to prepare for the new schools opening this fall and to continue to support our children in acquiring a sound local education.
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