CINCINNATI- A flute shop owner found guilty of withholding thousands of dollars worth of musical instruments from her customers received orders to reimburse them as a requirement for staying out of prison when she faced sentencing almost five years ago.
However, Patricia North continues to owe $72,725.68 out of the total $76,057.91 in restitution to numerous victims, which breaches the terms of her probation set to end in several months, according to court records.
North now faces a court mandate to stand before a Hamilton County judge at 9 a.m. Monday to provide an explanation.
During her 2021 sentencing hearing, North received a warning that violating her probation would result in “the court would impose a term of eighteen (18) months in (a state prison),” the judgment entry states.
Ohio AG got involved
North, 69, pleaded guilty in May 2021 to a felony charge of unauthorized use of property, and prosecutors dropped three theft counts in return, the court docket shows.
Her customers made upfront payments when they dropped off their flutes at her shop for repairs, yet they never got their instruments back or received refunds, prosecutors stated.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit against her, requesting the court to require North to pay back her customers and impose civil penalties.
The lawsuit asserts North, who owned Cincinnati Fluteworks, broke Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act.
The suit claims she collected upfront payments from multiple customers for repairs or instrument sales, yet failed to return the instruments, payments, or any proceeds from selling the instruments.
Victims didn’t believe North
Court records reveal there were over 30 victims.
Multiple victims testified at North’s Aug. 10, 2021, sentencing hearing.
Most stated they found her explanations for not returning their instruments unconvincing.
North expressed remorse in court for her poor judgment and the loss of their instruments.
She reported having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and a knee injury. She also maintained that a doctor had overmedicated her on steroids.
The judge who handled her sentencing, Megan Shanahan, now serves as an Ohio Supreme Court Justice, so Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Leah Dinkelacker currently oversees the case.
Shanahan explained during the sentencing hearing that imprisoning North would prevent her victims from receiving restitution, which led her to order North to maintain full-time employment and make consistent payments to repay them throughout probation.
She additionally ordered North to undergo a mental health evaluation and obtain treatment.
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