AUBURN — A local woman went to jail Tuesday to begin serving a sentence for embezzling more than $100,000 from a Greene market and food wholesaler in 2011.

Candice Campbell, 53, of 337 East Waterman Road pleaded guilty in September to felony theft. She was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison, with all but eight months suspended. After serving her time, Campbell will be on probation for three years. During that time, she is prohibited from having contact with Janet Lapin, owner of Town and Country Foods on Daggett Hill Road in Greene.

Lapin addressed Androscoggin County Superior Court Justice MaryGay Kennedy on Tuesday, saying, “It was hard to believe the person we trusted most would do this.” She said Campbell’s actions were “something I’ll never forgive.”

Asked by Kennedy whether she was content with the sentence the defendant and prosecutors had agreed to, Lapin said she was.

Campbell must repay Lapin or Town and Country Foods a total of $121,364, Kennedy ordered. Deputy District Attorney Andrew Robinson said Campbell had “remarkably” arrived in court Tuesday with a $50,000 payment toward that total restitution.

She had been free on her own recognizance but was taken into custody Tuesday to start serving her sentence.

Justin Leary, Campbell’s attorney, said his client regretted her actions.

Campbell had worked for the Greene business for nearly 13 years. She started as a cashier at the retail store and worked her way up to human resources manager. She handled all of the cash that came into the wholesale and retail business, Lapin had told the Sun Journal in earlier published reports. Campbell took cash receipts in bags from the business’ drivers and took cash drawer receipts from retail clerks and had sole responsibility for the cash.

Lapin said she hired a forensic accountant to go through the books and estimate the total amount of missing money, which amounted to nearly $125,000 in lost cash receipts. Lapin said she believed much more than that went missing over a six-year period.

Town and Country Foods distributes fresh and frozen food and supplies through wholesale deliveries to restaurants and a retail store in Greene.

cwilliams@sunjournal.com