NORWICH – An ex-legal assistant pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny on February 26, and still has yet to be sentenced after denying her previous employer the right to speak during sentencing.

In Chenango County Court on Tuesday, Andrea B. Pertilla was scheduled to be sentenced to third-degree grand larceny after accepting a plea deal and agreeing to pay back $70,000 of the approximately $90,000 that law enforcement said she took from her previous employer.

According to Judge Richard Northrup Jr., while Pertilla could have faced up to seven years in prison on the original charge of second-degree grand larceny, she had accepted a plea deal from the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office for six months in jail followed by five years of probation.

When the victim in this case asked to speak at sentencing, Pertilla denied the request with Defense Attorney Ben Bergman stating that 10 days notice hadn’t been given as is legally required.

Bergman also requested that the $70,000 be paid back as a civil money judgement.