Appeals court: Punishment too harsh for woman who stole thousands of lottery tickets

CENTRALIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington State Court of Appeals says a four-year sentence for a Toledo woman who pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of lottery tickets from her employer is too harsh.

The Chronicle reports in a story on Friday that the court vacated Katrina Bowen's sentence.

The court says Bowen's sentence was far outside the standard range of zero to three months for such a crime and that the lower court abused its discretion.

Bowen pleaded guilty in March 2014 to stealing about 500 lottery tickets per shift over about nine months at the Flying K gas station in Toledo.

A new sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.