It was alleged Kathryn Ellen Michael (centre) stole a total of $400,853.92 over two years.
KATHRYN Ellen Michael is accused of stealing more than $400,000 from an Albury business.
Detectives in late January charged Michael — who appeared in Albury Local Court yesterday — with 28 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception from Evolve Orthodontics.
The business is run by John Brabant, founder of the Carevan Foundation that feeds homeless and disadvantaged people.
Michael, 21, of Finke Court, Lavington, made an application for legal aid yesterday and her matters were adjourned after a brief mention before magistrate Tony Murray.
Police prosecutor Sgt Shannon Lewis said the case was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions office in Wagga for possible prosecution.
But the DPP declined to take on the matter, which meant Michael would face a lesser penalty if convicted by a magistrate.
When told of the indication from the DPP, Mr Murray said: “She is very lucky.”
It was alleged Michael stole a total of $400,853.92 over two years.
The amounts listed in the charge sheets vary from $49,070.85 to $24.95, for something purchased on Facebook.
Solicitor Andrea MacDonald successfully sought an adjournment of the charges until March 26.
Ms MacDonald said yesterday a police brief of evidence had yet to be provided to her client.
Michael began working at Evolve in February 2010.
It was alleged her first theft was $43,744.30, between May 1 and 31 in 2010.
The following month she allegedly stole $27,378.35, and more than $8000 in two more thefts that year.
It is alleged Michael stole $16,560.85 in January 2011 followed by her biggest theft of $49,070.85 in March that year.
The charges reveal the thefts of $27,230.34 in May, $31,247.39 in June, $38,089.90 in August, $11,603.80 in October, $25,605.80 in November and $15,198.80 in December.
The court was told of further cases of alleged thefts of $17,726.80 in January last year, $32,000 in February and $15,382.70 in March.
There were Facebook and iTunes purchases in April and May for amounts from $24.95 to $137.41.
Mr Murray said Michael must enter pleas when she returns to court in two weeks.