NASHUA – A Superior Court judge early Wednesday afternoon sentenced former Litchfield private school principal Shannon Dannible to 1 1/2 – 15 years in the State Prison for Women.

Dannible, 41, was sentenced on the single felony count of theft by unauthorized taking. She entered a plea of no contest to the charge, meaning that she does not contest the facts of the charge against her.

Judge Jacalyn Colburn handed down the sentence following a lengthy, often emotional hearing, which was highlighted by Dannible’s long, rambling statement to the court.

Other terms of the sentence that prosecutors and Dannible’s lawyer, Attorney Roger “Rusty” Chadwick, had agreed upon going into Wednesday’s hearing include that she pay in restitution $152,467 – the amount she is charged with stealing from St. Francis of Assisi parish school in Litchfield over the four years she was principal.

She must pay a minimum of $100 per month, beginning 90 days after she is released from prison.

Prosecutors had asked Colburn for a sentence of 5-15 years in prison, with 2 1/2 years of the minimum suspended for 10 years.

Chadwick had recommended his client serve no prison time.

A full story will appear in Thursday’s Telegraph and on www.nashuatelegraph.com.

–DEAN SHALHOUP