The former director of the Boise affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure received a 28-year prison sentence, with three years fixed, for embezzling more than $170,000 from the nonprofit over a nine-month period.

"I spent it. The majority was on gambling," Mary E. Guinard, 36, of Meridian, told 4th District Court Judge Thomas Neville during her sentencing late Monday afternoon for grand theft and forgery.

Guinard was sentenced 14 years for each count for embezzling the money through unauthorized checks and credit card charges while directing the Boise affiliate of Komen for the Cure, which raises money for breast cancer research, screening, education and treatment.

She was arrested at her home Aug. 25 and initially charged with seven counts of forgery and two counts of grand theft.

Neville told Guinard she had "betrayed the trust of an organization that from my observation is remarkable. Making any nonprofit a victim is reprehensible."

Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Jonathan Medema called Guinard's actions a "fairly elaborate account deception" by a woman whose grandmother died of breast cancer and whose mother is a breast cancer survivor.

"The court needs to understand what she did and who she did it to," he said. "How many women in the community will be diagnosed with cancer after it's too late because they didn't have access to the money the defendant stole?"

Though Guinard looks to spend at least three years in prison, Neville also granted retained jurisdiction - commonly known as the rider program. That means Guinard will spend six months getting treatment in an Idaho Department of Correction facility before Neville decides if she should continue serving her prison sentence or be placed on felony probation.

Neville will use the six-month follow-up hearing to determine whether Guinard has a legitimate plan in place for paying back the money and that the amount of restitution has been agreed upon. Medema told Neville that Guinard owes $172,533.01, but the defense has not agreed on that amount.

Ada County Deputy Public Defender Jessica Bublitz had asked Neville for retained jurisdiction or placement in mental health court based on a pre-sentence evaluation that said Guinard has bipolar and impulse control disorders. Bublitz said Guinard's mental health issues date back to childhood.

Guinard told Neville she was depressed and in an "emotionally abusive" relationship when she started stealing from the foundation. She also mentioned longstanding addiction problems, including a stint for alcohol abuse treatment at 22.

When she wrote the first fraudulent check, Guinard said "it was kind of a high" but that she was on a "constant up and down" as she continued.

"I never thought about the consequences," she said.

While Medema acknowledged Guinard's mental health, including a suicide attempt after her arrest, he said her condition could not fully explain her actions. Neville agreed.

"To commit multiple calculated crimes doesn't seem impulsive to me," Neville said.

Guinard, who broke into tears during the sentencing, reiterated her apologies.

"I loved my job. I can't make excuses," she said. "All I want to do at this point is move forward and make amends. If I have to pay it back for the rest of my life, I'll pay it back for the rest of my life."

Chad Dryden: 672-6734