A woman who defrauded her Whitehorse employer out of $9,000 and then fled the territory has been sentenced to 180 days served in the community.

Dawn Morgan pleaded guilty earlier this year to fraud and using forged documents back in 2006.

At the time, Morgan, now 41, was an administrative assistant at the Alaska Canada Rail Link. She had keys to the building, knowledge of the computer password, and access to the company cheques.

Three cheques, totalling about $9,100, were cashed in the name of Morgan’s then-partner, with whom she had a history of drug and alcohol abuse.

She was arrested by police a few months later, but fled the jurisdiction when she was released on conditions.

She turned herself in to the RCMP in June of this year.

Morgan said the man, a former boyfriend, had shown up at her home in Whitehorse, asking to stay with her for a few days.

It was his scheme and he threatened her to participate, but she took responsibility for her role in the crime, Judge Michael Cozens said during Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.

He highlighted Morgan’s progress and development over the past eight years.

She participated in treatment for alcohol and drug addiction, and has maintained her sobriety since 2009.

Morgan has had steady employment at a grocery store in Alberta for five years, and is now a contributing member of society, Cozens said.

Morgan’s daughter, who she raised largely as a single parent, attends a prestigious art school in Calgary.

Morgan is in a healthy relationship now and became engaged last year.

“She turned herself in in order to put this behind her and move on with her life,” Cozens said.

Morgan had a transient upbringing. Her father was an alcoholic. She faced abuse in foster homes. As an adult, she had a series of violent relationships with men.

Her life has been difficult, Cozens said, in part because of choices she’s made but also through circumstances out of her control.

“Ms. Morgan, I think you’ve done remarkably well,” he said.

“You should be proud of yourself. I think with everything you’ve gone through, you’ve managed to be a very positive role model for your daughter.”

Cozens compared Morgan’s case to a similar one he oversaw earlier this year involving a Mayo ambulance service employee who stole $8,000 from the service over a year and a half.

Cozens granted that woman a discharge, plus one year of probation and 80 hours of community service.

That case, like Morgan’s, involved breaching the trust of an employer.

In “rare and exceptional cases,” a discharge – meaning the offence isn’t noted on a person’s criminal record – is appropriate, Cozens said.

This was not one of those cases, he determined.

In the Mayo case, the woman wanted to run for a position on her First Nation’s council, and a mark on her record would have prohibited her from doing so.

Morgan expressed concern about obtaining future employment and crossing the border to visit her grandmother in the U.S. with a fraud charges on her record.

Cozens said some term of incarceration – albeit in the community – is necessary.

She didn’t turn herself in for years after, and didn’t confess to the crimes right away, though she has made it clear she’s remorseful for what she did.

Cozens sentenced her to 180 days for each charge, to be served concurrently, plus 30 days concurrent for her breach of conditions by fleeing the Yukon.

With credit given for time served, she has 146 days left to serve in the community.

She’s already paid restitution.

Morgan is subject to a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., and must complete 20 hours of community service. She is not to consume any alcohol nor drugs.