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GSU Employee Accused Of Theft Wins Round In Court

ATLANTA,None — A Georgia State University employee charged with theft and fired from her job won a victory in court on Tuesday.

The case against Angela Garner, a 23-year-employee of GSU, was dismissed for lack of evidence.

She was charged in early August for buying a TV on her state purchase card, or p card, and taking it home.

In a Fulton County courtroom Tuesday, Garner's lawyer said she was authorized to have university equipment at home for work. James Howard said the charges against Garner were a rush to judgment. "She was terminated almost immediately before anyone looked into what had really happened," said Howard.

Garner was arrested and charged with theft after GSU police received an anonymous letter from a whistle-blower.

The letter claimed that the TV was just the tip of the iceberg. It alleged that when Garner made legitimate purchases for the department, like Nintendos for example, she would order 23 and take one home.

Garner's lawyer told Channel 2 Action News reporter Diana Davis that the letter was a vendetta on the part of an employee he claims Garner disciplined. "We're pretty sure someone was trying to hurt her. It's almost unthinkable that she could lose her career and reputation based on what someone says in an anonymous letter," said Howard.

Though the case on the one theft charge was dismissed for lack of evidence, GSU police confirmed to Davis that the investigation into Garner continues.

"There are still several purchases that we are looking into at our auditing department and our investigative division is also looking at," said GSU police Maj. Anthony Coleman.