Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Starr sent to prison

Starr sent to prison

Nov 16, 2007 - 08:50:19 CST

By LAUREN DONOVAN
Bismarck Tribune

Melissa Starr went to prison Thursday, leaving six of her own young children crying in a federal courtroom in Bismarck and many unseen and thus silent Twin Buttes children deprived because of the money she stole from their small reservation school.

The former school board president was sentenced to 18 months in a federal prison and three years probation for stealing $309,000, an amount her attorney said she would do her best to restitute, but would take winning a lottery or getting an oil well for her to be able to pay back.

She and six other school board members and employees were indicted a year ago for conspiring to steal nearly $700,000 over three years ending in mid-2005. They did it through false travel, doctored vouchers, cash advances and wired cash transfers.

One board member already has been sentenced. Starr's appearance, in gray sweat pants and a black T-shirt, was followed by one for board member Darcy Lone Bear.

Lone Bear got three years probation and was ordered to repay the nearly $24,000 he stole from the school.

Lone Bear said he's already having money withheld from his $12-an-hour job to pay the money back.

The four others " who also all pleaded guilty " will be sentenced within the next two weeks.

Former Twin Buttes School Board member Tammy Grady was sentenced to seven months in jail on Nov. 8. She also must serve seven months of house arrest with an electronic monitoring device, pay $92,000 in restitution and perform 200 hours of community service.

Federal Judge Dan Hovland appeared unimpressed by Starr's tears and Kleenex-wiping while she read a statement explaining her actions and that she has sleepless nights and a suffering family.

"... The children of the school did not go without. I know what the paper looks like, but they were never affected," she said.

Hovland zeroed in on a 2004 trip Starr and three others made to Washington, D.C. He got Starr to admit the official purpose of the trip amounted to three hours of meetings to talk about a new $8 million school at Twin Buttes, while the group then had another $13,000 in cash wired to them so they could divide the money and stay a total of six days.

Hovland also was curious about a weeklong trip to Albuquerque, N.M., at school expenses, but pressed for fewer details.

Hovland said the D.C. trip cost the Twin Buttes school $31,000.

"How can you suggest there was any common sense spending that kind of money?" Hovland asked. "Any other entity would look at that and fire them all."

Starr's financial wrongdoings also included making numerous cash withdrawals from the school's bank accounts.

Starr said she came to a school board already helping itself to school money.

"It wasn't any different than when I got on," she told Hovland.

Hovland said the whole situation was a "tragedy, but also a crime."

The money stolen from the school could have gone to Internet, laptops or tutoring for kids, he said.

He said he hoped the new school board "cleared of those indicted at the insistence of the tribal chairman and the governor" would recognize right from wrong.

As a final question, Hovland asked Starr what happened to all the money she took.

Starr looked down and said, "I've got nothing to show for it."

(Reach reporter Lauren Donovan at 888-303-5511 or lauren@westriv.com.)

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Comments

To: Past Twin Buttes Student wrote on Nov 28, 2007 11:12 AM:

" You don't really sound like one the children from Twin Buttes. Seriously, you really cared about weather you got better text books or not. That school spoiled the heck out of their students. I went there and i remember getting 85 to 100 dollars a day to go and play one basketball game in bismarck. We would stay the whole weekend. No wonder that school is broke. So quit trying to sound like you really care about weather that school has money or not. Sooner or later that school is going to close, not because their broke, but because they are just plain sad. "

To: just curious wrote on Nov 25, 2007 8:14 AM:

" These are questions you should be asking the TB school board that hired him. "

Sad wrote on Nov 23, 2007 3:45 PM:

" Yes it is Sad in this community? Very unfriendly, honest, cold, heartless, ignorant, and Jelous. iIcan go on. Ask any about this community in comparison to some on the Ft. Berthold Rez. "

LK wrote on Nov 23, 2007 9:03 AM:

" I would love to have an open forum with the judge who did the sentencing. "

Wow wrote on Nov 22, 2007 8:23 AM:

" It would appear that everybody needs to watch their back's in this community. Sad. "

To: Must be Nice wrote on Nov 21, 2007 12:32 PM:

" And you probably wouldn't have cried about it either. "

Just Us wrote on Nov 21, 2007 7:40 AM:

" To Ted, The principal took a $10,000 a year cut to move back home. His salary for a principal is probably the lowest on the entire rez. He is a good roll model and a family man. We are fortunate to have someone like him. As for the water truck driver, was a crime committed? She wrecked in a place where the road was bad and it caused the water to slosh and the truck to go out of control. She was not the only one to have to drive the truck when Hank failed to do so. If you want to blame someone for the accident blame Hank for not doing his job. "

Incredulous wrote on Nov 20, 2007 11:30 PM:

" Seriously, where did she spend that money??? Freemarketradical, while I think homeschooling is a noble undertaking, it's rarely done by the right kind of parent or done the right way. If you can't understand your kid's math problems, don't think you're qualified to teach him, no matter what Jesus told you to do. And, Jesus wouldn't want your child sheltered from the rest of the community, or have them help with chores instead of actually learning for eight hours per day. "

Must be Nice. wrote on Nov 20, 2007 10:02 PM:

" Must be nice to take $309,000 and only sit for 18 months!! Shoot. I do it too. "

Home of the Champions wrote on Nov 20, 2007 7:34 PM:

" People of Twin Buttes: Let us not be too hard on each other. What happened is very unfortunate, but we will get past it. Yes, we all have our opinions, and it is healthy for us to talk about what has happened in our community. It affects all of us in some way, children, adults, and elders. Let us remember that we are a community, and that we are all Champions in our own way. Many of you are kind, helpful, sharing, and loving individuals. When a fellow community member needs a helping hand, you are there, regardless of how you voted in any election. I've seen it happen over and over again. Let's stay strong as a community. Let's be careful how we talk to each other. Remember the power of words. Our traditional teachings tell us our mouths are sacred, and that the words we use should reflect that sacredness. Let's remember that, and speak kindly to one another. Aho! "

TB wrote on Nov 20, 2007 3:43 PM:

" Wow, now isnt that sad! how a person could go on living life thinking they did nothing wrong! plus 6 kids being spread out and pawned off. REALITY CHECK! "

TBREZ wrote on Nov 20, 2007 3:38 PM:

" to ted what you are saying about the young lady might be true but before you say anything find out the facts! yes she did wreck the water truck but that was her first time driving a truck loaded with water and if you are from the buttes you should also know that the road is messed up with 2 big dips there! give her a break! she is trying to make a living for her family of 5. she's not guilty of any thing and if she's qualfied for the job leave her alone! "

Sam wrote on Nov 20, 2007 3:33 PM:

" Waaahoooo! Can't wait for that "rainy day fund" to come out!I hope I'm there. And the cars and the men she bought will probably be waiting for that too. So in ur face america! Great news on the 7 to 9 months too. Even sooner! We'll be waiting for you Melissa. "

oh ssdd wrote on Nov 20, 2007 1:30 PM:

" I lived in TB for yrs. & never voted once. Why? Because I never believed there was a person, ever, who was either qualified or had the best interest of the community in mind. A vote can be bought for a case of beer or a few "cigarettes"! Eugene, lol, he made sis Svea, SVEA, Headcook. Everyone one of these people, past & present, talk a good talk. But, at the end of the day it boils down to his/her bottomline. As for the kids being unaffected, I went to a grade school BB tournament & I was apalled at their "uniforms". They were just plain green Fruit-O-Looms w/iron-on #'s! Stubby's professional court-room attire cost more. although not by much But what can you do, the more famn damily, the more likely-hood you will be elected. I doubt it'll change, sad true. SSDD! "

Past Twin Buttes Student wrote on Nov 20, 2007 1:26 PM:

" I just wanted to say THANK YOU for the past years I have gone to school with runned down text books. Thank you, for letting us go on a little field trip while you traveled coast to coast in America. Thank you, for giving the Twin Buttes school a bad representation. Just thanks for everything you DID NOT do for us in the time of need. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!! "

l a woman wrote on Nov 20, 2007 9:57 AM:

" what is wrong with the picture, if you steal you go to jail you get to stay home in six mile creek if you kill why is the woman who killed baby moses still walking the streeets. where is the justice "

Ted wrote on Nov 20, 2007 6:13 AM:

" To Moving Forward Yes, December 1, 2007 starts with the same staff thats been there for years and Hank Starr's common law wife was recently hired by the school. Even though she wrecked the community water truck and did not pay a dime for the damages. Another Star is the Chairman of the school board. So life goes on. The Principal makes more money with little experience. He comes from the other half with the most votes in the community. At least the thiefs goal for a new school has been achieved. "

don't forget wrote on Nov 19, 2007 2:47 PM:

" Don't forget about the water association in northwestern North Dakota that could not recover more than $950,000 allegedly embezzled by its former treasurer before he died and gambled this money away. The local casino sent 3 floral arrangements, not one, but 3! This is a real incident reported in the Bismarck Tribune. Kind of ironic that no mention of it was included in the NEW TOWN NEWS, casino hdqtrs. The good folks of Ray, Tioga, and vicinity are just out those funds. This 1 gambling addict outdid the entire bunch from Twin Buttes. Race really has nothing to do w/dishonesty and thievery; he stole from his own. "

PO3 wrote on Nov 18, 2007 8:36 PM:

" This women didn't show one ounce of remorse for what she did and only got 18 months. "

lk wrote on Nov 18, 2007 4:01 PM:

" It upsets me that she robbed from each and every taxpayer...I know for a fact that she would spend weekends trashing motels and partying on our dollars. And I am sure that this would of continued if they wouldn't of been caught. Oh so now we are so sorry and have sleepless nights....pray for forgiveness only works when we truly have repented....not because we oops got caught. With over $300,000 we couldn't of afford better clothing to wear to court....give me a break and my tax money back! "

Moving Forward wrote on Nov 18, 2007 11:32 AM:

" At the end of November the last embezzler will be sentenced and then the people of Twin Buttes can finally move forward and began to heal. The school is under new leadership and a new board that can lead the School in a new positive direction. We look forward to the end of this long drawn out drama. We look forward to the end of November and the beginning of a new Era for the Twin Buttes School. "

Twin Buttes Resident wrote on Nov 18, 2007 5:38 AM:

" To home of the champs, this is no longer true. The only champ alive living in Twin Buttes is Pete Fredericks. He made the Nationals. Dusty Wells, was a champion grass dancer nationally as well and a great basketball player for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Most of us are related, it would appear to me most of the indians writing comments are non-residents who moved here. We are mother's clan and we walked that journey during our life time. Take a good look around ..any one who is elected to board of importance or the council accept payments or try to get money from other programs for their own benefit. Instead of complaining about the same families getting elected..do something about it. Like perhaps, reservation wide council election. You can bet then the same people won't get elected. Find out whats going on within your own reservtion. You will find out Stubby Starr was the not only one getting greed. "

freemarketradical wrote on Nov 17, 2007 11:57 AM:

" Anouther great argument against publicly funded education and for home schooling. This kinda stuff would never happen if the taxpayer wasn't picking up the tab, plus the kids get a better education. "

wow wrote on Nov 17, 2007 10:29 AM:

" To heck with sentences, these people should have thier enrollments taken away. Where is the story about what the tribal government is doing or not doing to prevent things like this from happening again. Twin buttes is a shadow of itself because people like the ones going to jail have stolen and continue to steal. Hiding behind her children, she has nothing to show for it because her and the rest of these thieves just opened their doors and had their families take whatever they wanted. The state of affairs in this tiny community is appalling and is just a reflection of where the tribe on whole sits. Stop stealing. Start disenrolling. "

Home of the Champs wrote on Nov 17, 2007 9:45 AM:

" To Twin Buttes Resident…“She continues to have support from people in the Community and that’s why she got reelected”? Are we talking about the same person? She showed everyone how greedy she was by running for reelection. The only people that supported her then and now are her many relatives/co-conspirators. Everyone else wanted nothing to do with her a long time ago. She should have gotten a much longer sentence for STEALING this money. "

snow wrote on Nov 17, 2007 5:08 AM:

" the whole matter comes down to this you got caught so now you played so now you pay, so who is really hurt here everyone. the kids you were to fight for the friends who have kids and there kids, you were taught well how to do this. why cry you didnt cry when you got the money "

INJUSTICE wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:46 PM:

" She should have gotten a longer sentene then what was given. Who can steal money from a school and say that the Children were not effected. She should have been given the maximum sentence for stealing from them kids. PLAN AND SIMPLE SHE ROBBED THOSE KIDS OUT OF A BETTER EDUCATION. "

Nu Eta Mia wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:04 PM:

" To Tip of the Ice berg, Eugene Holen was the only school member to get things done for the school and children. He did an outstanding job compared to some of the cowboys who served on the board. Too bad, no-one complained about them for an audit. The only decent principal left to work in Mandaree. What gets me is why is the financial person still working for the school. She knew what was going on and failed to report anything. Eugene was veteran and cared for his family the best he could after his parents died. I take offense to whomever, is cutting my dad (in native way) down. You indian people please let it go now. Sitting Bull said take the best of the white people and let the bad go. It is not our way to cut people down. Know who you are before you speak. Someday, one of your own family members will experience whats going on now. Gowits! "

Twin Buttes Resident wrote on Nov 16, 2007 10:49 PM:

" Ms. Starr had a good lawyer. That's what the law is all about. American Indians are in prison for a long time for not having access to a good lawyer. Ms. Starr continues to have alot of support from the community which is why she was relected to the school board but was told to step down by the Governor. We are a soverign nation and our Chief and tribal council lacked the skills to take care of business at home. Hopefully, this will be lesson to all tribal directors, and school personel. With the war going tribal programs will experience financial hardship so please don't get into the cookie jar. In closing, community members always went to her for a helping hand either to speak in their behalf or advocate for their needs. When she gets out life will be difficult, she won't be able to serve on any boards and with criminal background checks she will find it hard to secure employment. This incident will follow her the rest of her life. Rather, then cutting the family down pray for the children for they will suffer the most. Aho! "

wow wrote on Nov 16, 2007 9:23 PM:

" Anyone who honestly thinks these ppl are good, when they all took so much, are either related to them or married to them. To that one person that thinks the writer of this story in anyway swayed from the facts I say where are you looking because, in twin buttes there is no community. Just one family with power and everyone else just begging for leftovers. And to the writer of the story. maybe a little less praising god and a little more digging. Go on this reservation, you only have to sratch the surface to see how greedy these people really are. "

PO'd wrote on Nov 16, 2007 6:50 PM:

" $309,000 earned over an 18 month period - employment at the standard 40 hour work week - is over $99.00 per hour. That doesn’t even include her salary, which I’m sure was substantial. The sentence is an outrage! If they don’t seize ALL of her assets - that can be located - as retribution, that’s yet another outrage! With punishment like this, it encourages her, as well as others, to continue this behavior. BEWARE future potential employers, Ms. Starr will continue! What a role model! The best thing that could happen to her children is that they are removed from her custody. "

"Million Dollar Mama" wrote on Nov 16, 2007 5:27 PM:

" This woman didn't deserve the sentence she received; she should have been given at least 10 years. She has been stealing from the school during all the time she served on the school board, approximately 10 years. She is actually lucky that the audit didn't go back ten years; the total would probably have been around one million dollars--or more! "

unclewho??? wrote on Nov 16, 2007 5:10 PM:

" Is that arby or lyndon "

forgiven wrote on Nov 16, 2007 3:56 PM:

" To Miss Starr, I feel very sad for you, and I dont care what anybody says you do have a good heart, and you do care about your kids. Hang in there and ask God for forgiveness, I know you probably did. God Bless "

side watcher.. wrote on Nov 16, 2007 3:13 PM:

" Wow I am very shocked at the system. I seen an article that a man recieved 9 months for theft of property and she only got 18 months for theft from a public school almost amounting to quarter of a million Dollars. Outrageous! & yeah to be haulen her children to court with her OMG traumatize them somemore why don't you. She never had the time of day for them when she was so busy traveling around on the (community) kids' expense then. I feel bad for her children but the way the system works is so messed up she will be out on "Good Time" in probly 7-9 months anyway so then she can pull out her "rainy day funds" that she put away. She may have bought cars and men but the question is, will it all be waiting for her when she gets home? Hmmmm "

sickening wrote on Nov 16, 2007 2:44 PM:

" Most people are still missing the point. 18 MONTHS IS NOT LONG ENOUGH!! Her statement was that she came onto a board that was already doing this illegal behavior. If she knew that then, why condone and follow the bad example? 18 months is only a short time. Not enough time for something this disgraceful. She has brought shame to her family and the people of Twin Buttes that are working for something good. Will she suffer for this?? NO! She obviously showed no remorse for her actions in the three years she spent stealing this money why would she show it now after being faced with a jail door? Sure she will say she is "reformed" and feels eternally "sorry", but is that really going to be the case? I say not. She will be back out in 18 months finding a way to make a dishonest living for the next while until she is caught at that. Once a crook always a crook. Only which job will it be next???? "

Allen wrote on Nov 16, 2007 2:20 PM:

" What exactly are "alternative meaasures to acquire financial comfort"? You can't seriously be talking about or condoning illegal activities just because someone doesn't make as much money in a year as you might hope they do. Can you? For I, as someone who grew up on Fort Berthold, fully agree with KT. The opportunities are there. Reach down and grab a boot strap. "

KT wrote on Nov 16, 2007 1:32 PM:

" To Bismarck Indian: Oh come on know, I know for a fact that this article has nothing to do with race, only the race of a thief. All the tribes have many many programs that benefit our people it is up to the individual to determine how they use them. We all have to work, if the pay isn't good enough move on to a better job, go back to school the tribe will pay for it. I use to work at the casino, the pay isn't anything worse than off the reservation. God gave us this life but it is up to use how we use it, quite waiting for someonelse to alway make it easy for you "

To LD from Bismarck Indian wrote on Nov 16, 2007 12:33 PM:

" I see you like writing about the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation a lot. I also see you write a few other articles as well now and then. You do your job well and I commend you. I would just like to suggest maybe writing some positive things happening on Fort Berthold every once in while. There are so many good people there, and so many good things going on, but they seem to be overshadowed by the sensationalism of publicized negativity, which I think, categorizes us all in the eyes of the non-Indian at times. If you must write about the Tribes, do a story on the pay scale that all four Indian casinos have for their entry-level positions versus supervisors and managers, cost of living, and each individual casino. Perhaps you can get certain casinos to raise their pay, making meaningful jobs to fill, thus lowering the turnover and poverty rate and people who take alternative measures to acquire financial comfort. "

Southpark wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:35 AM:

" I am disgusted by this. How can you not think of your children? Because this is another fine example of a selfish person who was either to stupid to consider the consequences to her family or simply didn't give a crap. When her kids grow up and steal from others she will wonder why. Another preventable breakdown in the home. What a shame. "

Curious wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:06 AM:

" Do they have court transcripts available to the public?? I would love to know what her statement said. How do you rationalize stealing $300k?? Now she' has "sleepless nights" and a "suffering family". They must have slept and lived pretty well till they got caught. "

your relative wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:04 AM:

" twinkle twinkle little star, up above the world so high, (then) but not now. Shame on you. You to should have listen to the old honest people, no ears. I will pray for your children so they don't do what you done. Be sure and write to them everyday. "

Taxpayer wrote on Nov 16, 2007 10:46 AM:

" There has to be some way that this amount of money can be recovered. The students at Twin Buttes had to have suffered by this amount of money that went missing. "

REX wrote on Nov 16, 2007 10:21 AM:

" Ageless, My exwife wasted $400,000 of my income in 8 years. The key word here is "exwife". She has nothing to show for it either, not even a husband. "

Racist Biker wrote on Nov 16, 2007 10:10 AM:

" Court should take her home if she has one. Her attorney said she would do her best to pay it back but would take winning the lottery to do so. If the court took her house thats at least 1/3 of what she owes right there. She isn't going to need it for the next 18 mo anyway. "

ageless wrote on Nov 16, 2007 9:53 AM:

" 18 months for taking 309.000 from kids is a mighty small price to pay. If she took that amount over a 3 year period, it averages out to $8533/mo. plus what ever her pay was. A lot of workers don't make that over a 12 month period. She should have received a longer sentence. Also she still has not realized she did wrong. The story is full of excuses she made to every question she was asked by Judge Hovland. She says she has nothing to show for it, how do we know she does not have it stashed away somewhere? That is one heck of a lot of money to "have nothing to show for it." "

BB wrote on Nov 16, 2007 9:45 AM:

" JUSTICE IS SERVED, but she did not do justice to her children that in my mind was just as criminal as hitting your child to see her being led off is tragic for those poor children, she got what she deserved, i think she still believes she did nothing wrong. "

REX wrote on Nov 16, 2007 9:44 AM:

" I'll tell you what, I'll spend 18 months in jail for $309,000. I'll have a nice home waiting for me when I get out. "

WHATS COMES AROUND GOES AROUND wrote on Nov 16, 2007 9:35 AM:

" WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND. I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE WAS CRYING, SHE SURE WASN'T CRYING WHEN SHE WAS A SPENDING. SHOULD OF GOT MORE JAIL TIME. THAT WAS ALOT OF MONEY STOLEN, AND 18 MOS OF JAIL WHATEVER. SHOULD OF GOT MORE. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OTHER THIEFS. "

sad-sad wrote on Nov 16, 2007 9:26 AM:

" how sad it is to bring your 6 kids to court to try to play on the judges sympathy..... did she ever think how traumatic it was for her kids to see their mother led off to jail... and for them to go where{ home}?????. same old story.....just look out for # 1. "

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