Ex-Waleska official gets prison time for theft

Aimee Abernathy, former city manager of Waleska, was sentenced to 15 years — the first two years in prison — and ordered to pay $37,821 restitution after she pleaded guilty to stealing from the city. AJC FILE

Aimee Abernathy, former city manager of Waleska, was sentenced to 15 years — the first two years in prison — and ordered to pay $37,821 restitution after she pleaded guilty to stealing from the city. AJC FILE

Former Waleska City Manager Aimee Abernathy was sentenced to 15 years, with the first two years to be served in prison, after she pleaded guilty to stealing from the city.

Abernathy entered her plea June 9 in Cherokee County Superior Court and was sentenced Aug. 18 by Senior Judge Frank C. Mills III, according to District Attorney Shannon G. Wallace.

“Our evidence was that she took over $30,000 from the city of Waleska when she was employed as the city manager,” Wallace said in an email.

The 44-year-old defendant, of Cartersville, had been charged with two counts of felony theft. As part of her sentence, she is required to pay $37,821 restitution to Gallagher Bassett, Waleska’s insurance company.

Abernathy resigned her city job in October 2015 and was arrested the following January after an investigation into missing city funds by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office. She was accused of making fraudulent payroll payments to herself and using a city charge card and Staples account for personal purchases.