NASHUA – The unexpected disclosure recently by former Litchfield private school principal Shannon Dannible that she was sexually abused as a child by members of the clergy, has caused yet another delay in her sentencing on charges she stole more than $150,000 from the school.

Dannible, 38, of Amesbury, Mass., pleaded no contest more than a year ago to one count of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer as part of an agreement that could send her to prison for as few as two years but as many as 15 years, according to the terms.

Dannible is accused of stealing $152,467 between 2007-11, while she was principal of St. Francis of Assisi School, a private school in Litchfield run by the Diocese of Manchester. She took the money to pay off personal debts, according to court documents.

The abuse revelation is the latest twist in a case that began with Dannible’s arrest in 2012, following an investigation by the state Attorney General’s office. She was indicted in 2013 on the single felony count.

Sentencing, which had been scheduled for Monday, is now set for Thursday, July 2, at 9 a.m. in Hillsborough County Superior Court South.

In his motion to continue, Dannible’s attorney, Dover-based lawyer Timothy Harrington, said he filed the motion because Dannible only recently brought up her claim that she is a clergy abuse victim.

That information “was not previously disclosed to counsel, nor to treating counselors or psychiatrists,” Harrington wrote in his motion. He said the first time Dannible told him about it was during a meeting on April 3.

Harrington requested the continuance “to allow counsel additional time to obtain a further psychiatric evaluation of the defendant.” He called Dannible’s disclosure “information that is significant (to her case) as it may weigh heavily on a potential diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder.”

Harrington didn’t indicate whether Dannible has been, or is being, evaluated for the disorder, or if she has been diagnosed with any disorders that could figure into her defense.

Some time ago, Harrington and assistant Attorney General Benjamin Agati, who is prosecuting the case, reached a “capped plea” agreement, an arrangement in which prosecutors and the defense agree to set minimum and maximum sentencing parameters and leave it up to the judge to choose the exact sentence.

Harrington indicated in his motion that Agati “takes no position” on the motion to continue, but Agati said he’d need “at least a few days” before sentencing to review any evaluation reports the defense may file.

The unusually lengthy string of sentencing postponements, continuances and cancellations goes back some 17 months and were granted for a variety of reasons.

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 594-6443, dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_DeanS.