The bizarre, sad tale of former NFL quarterback Art Schlichter has a bizarre, sad footnote.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, one of the victims of Schlichter’s million-dollar sports ticket scam became a participant. And she has now pleaded guilty to two counts of felony theft.
Anita Barney, 70, was sentenced to three years of probation and 100 hours of community service. She also must come up with $427,000 for 19 victims.
But it could have been worse for Barney. Confronted with testimony at her sentencing hearing from multiple victims from whom she finagled money, Barney claimed that she was victimized by Schlichter.
“Nobody really knows the story,” she said. “I was coerced.”
Her words caused her victims to walk out of the courtroom, and it prompted tough words from Judge Timothy S. Horton.
“What has moved me the most is her lack of remorse,” Horton said. “I gave her an opportunity to apologize today. A simple apology would go a long way.”
It’s not as if Barney needed the money. Her late husband, Robert, was the president and chairman of Wendy’s.
Bizarre. Sad.