Middlebury — A Middlebury College political science professor will resign Dec. 31 following her July plea of no contest to the charges of embezzlement.
Carmola was given a deferred sentence. She was also placed on probation for 18 months.
Police said Kateri Carmola, 46, stole $4,800 while she served as treasurer of the Salisbury Historical Society. The thefts took place over a three-month period in 2011. Police said Carmola claimed she used the stolen money to pay for student field trips. She has been paid back the money, police said.
Carmola informed coworkers and students of her decision to step down at the end of this year via an e-mail message that was distributed on campus.
Despite the serious charges, the educator will continue an association with the college, through June 2013, as a “visiting scholar”.
A no contest plea, as in Carmola’s case, is also called nolo contendere, the legal Latin term, means “I do not wish to contend.”
According to a Vermont Law School Library reference desk assistant, a no-contest plea—while not technically a guilty plea—has the same effect as a guilty plea; it is often offered as a part of a plea bargain.
The college did not return calls from this newspaper.
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