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Judge Deals Setback To Prison Guard Accused Of Faking Illness To Steal Sick Time

By Brad Segall

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) - A Montgomery County judge has ruled prosecutors can continue to freeze the state retirement account of a former corrections officer at Graterford Prison who stands accused of faking a deadly disease to steal sick time from her co-workers and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Samantha Sinkler is facing 30 counts, most of them felonies, for allegedly forging letters from her doctors claiming she was being treated for cancer (see related story).

Prosecutor Noah Marlier says she used the notes to obtain extra sick time from the state and from sympathetic co-workers who donated their sick time to her.

"There are numerous victims in this case who fell victim to her fraud and her deceit and her lies and we're still uncovering more victims," Marlier explained.

Freezing the pension means the victims would get paid back if the 35-year-old Collegeville woman is convicted, Marlier says.

"The Commonwealth had to show that we had a strong case, which we do. The Commonwealth had to show that restitution in this case is over $10,000. As of now, it's at least $12,000 and it could be more."

Marlier says the forged letters were uncovered last year, when Sinkler was in court facing unrelated DUI charges. Court records show she also forged a doctor's name on applications for benefits under the Family Medical Leave Act.

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