Linda Tuttle's lawyer, Kevin O'Connor Green, speaks to reporters Tuesday after his client's sentencing. -- Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

MINNEAPOLIS — Victims of former Freeborn County Commissioner Linda Tuttle shared mixed reactions Tuesday upon hearing U.S. District Court Judge David S. Doty’s sentencing order.

While many were pleased to hear Tuttle will spend at least 3 1/2 years in a federal prison — instead of only serving probation — they questioned how she will be able to pay the full $1.3 million in restitution that the federal judge ordered.

“How’s she going to do this?” said Tuttle’s lawyer, Kevin O’Connor Green, in the hall after the sentence was given.

Tuttle is convicted of diverting the $1.3 million from her company, Albert Lea Abstract Co., to herself for personal use.

U.S. Attorney Nancy Brasel, who prosecuted the case, said there were 50 victims involved.

The victims ranged from people who were planning to buy a home, to people who work saving up for a big project, to others who were engaging in land transactions.

For the Freeborn County Humane Society, it was about a new beginning for homeless Albert Lea cats and dogs.

The organization had been given a $150,000 donation to be used for a shelter addition, but that was ultimately liquidated by Tuttle through an escrow account at her company.

Former Albert Lean Steve Leuthold, who helped initiate the donation to the Humane Society, spoke adamantly prior to the sentencing order about the effect Tuttle’s decisions placed on himself and the Humane Society.

“I’m certainly glad she’s getting prison time and certainly glad she’s not getting probation,” Leuthold said.

He said he and the organization were set to break ground on the new addition last summer when they found out about Tuttle’s actions. None of their money was covered by insurance.

“What people need to understand is that there were animals we couldn’t help,” said Humane Society volunteer Dee Amberg. “They paid the ultimate price.”

The society has held pancake breakfasts, rummage sales, events at the local farmers market, bowl-a-thons, raffles and other fundraisers to try to make up for the lost money.

“The people down there have worked so hard to make these improvements,” Leuthold said.

While a lot of the money has been raised in the year since news about Tuttle was first released, there is still much work to be done, he said.

He noted he might still be able to get the lost money back through the banks that did not enforce proper procedures. He said he plans to bring civil suits against the banks involved.

Former Albert Lea resident George Dress, who now lives in Washington state, said he lost $200,000 from Tuttle’s actions.

He said he was disappointed in the trust he placed in Tuttle and noted he supported a longer prison sentence.

Barbara Gilmore, vice president of Old Republic Title, which was Albert Lea Abstract’s underwriter, said Tuttle’s actions had a devastating effect on the community of Albert Lea.

She said she personally dealt with many of Tuttle’s victims and tried to resolve claims.

Her staff and company incurred a large amount of losses and staff hours from doing so.

“This has really resulted in a great deal of tarnish on our industry,” she said.