POCATELLO - A local woman was sentenced Wednesday for her involvement in a scheme to embezzle funds from Idaho State University's dental program.

Sabra Knight, 35, a dental assistant at Pocatello Family Dentistry, was originally charged with accessory to grand theft. The charge was reduced to two counts of misdemeanor theft as part of a plea agreement. The case was remanded to magistrate court for sentencing.

The state had asked for restitution in the amount of $3,585, but that sum was disputed by Knight. A hearing on the restitution will be held on Jan. 26.

Knight will not have to serve any jail time but will be subject to probation for two years and will be ordered to perform 160 hours of community service total for the charges, which will run concurrently. She will also pay a $300 fine.

Knight was given a withheld judgment by Magistrate Gaylen Box, meaning she will be eligible to have the two misdemeanors expunged from her record upon successful completion of her probation.

Two other women involved in the incident are awaiting sentencing. Dianne Gilbert, 43, also a dental assistant, will be sentenced before Judge Peter D. McDermott today. She also has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor theft charges. Marlene Funk, 57, an administrative assistant in the Department of Dental Sciences at ISU, entered her guilty plea Nov. 10 to felony grand theft by embezzlement. Her sentencing is set for Jan. 5.

The incident apparently unfolded after Gilbert and Knight loaned money to Funk and she was unable to repay the debts. Funk initiated the scheme where fraudulent time sheets were submitted, resulting in payroll checks in excess of true earnings being issued to Gilbert and Knight.

Gilbert hinted in District Court Monday that the loans enabled Funk to cover gambling debts.