A 62-year-old U.S. mail carrier who stole coupons from her Gresham mail route was convicted of two felonies Thursday and sentenced to 1 1/2 years of probation.
Kathleen Reading Benting’s case is highly unusual because the 26-year U.S. Postal Service employee didn’t steal anything of inherent value — such as birthday cards with cash or packages with valuable products inside. Rather, she swiped only coupons — for Kohl’s, Victoria’s Secret and dollars off the price of cigarettes.
Defense attorney Sara Mulroy declined to say what motivated her client to swipe coupons that were addressed to scores of Gresham residents and mailed in the form of postcards. Deputy District Attorney Brenda Allen said she has no evidence to suggest Benting was motivated by a shopping addiction or drug or alcohol problems.
Court papers indicate that Benting suffers from depression.
Authorities began to investigate Benting after receiving a tip, and they discovered surveillance video at the Wood Village Kohl’s showing her using coupons that were addressed to residents along her mail route.
It’s unclear what Benting was buying. When detectives confronted Benting as she left the West Powell Boulevard post office in December 2015, they discovered 100 pieces of mail in her personal car.
Benting had worked the same postal route out of that office for 15 years.
She was not allowed to return to work, and ultimately ended up retiring. Benting’s pension isn’t affected by her convictions, her attorney said.
At the time of her arrest, she lived with her daughter and grandchildren, according to court papers.
Thursday, Benting pleaded guilty to one count of mail theft and one count of identity theft. Although stealing mail is a federal crime, the case was prosecuted entirely in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
Benting had no prior criminal history.
As part of her probation, she will spend the first several months in the Multnomah County Justice Reinvestment Program. The nearly 2-year-old program is designed to keep defendants out of jail or prison and connect them with drug treatment, housing and other necessities that could help stabilize their lives.
Judge Gregory Silver also ordered Benting to undergo cognitive restructuring therapy.
“Whether you get anything out of (these programs) is up to you,” Silver said.
