Whoever said business has gone to the dogs probably saw this coming.

Barbara Jean Lippincott, former assistant professor at University of Tampa’s Department of Accounting, recently plead guilty to stealing over $120,000 from the nearby American Spaniel Club. Lippincott served as the club’s treasurer, a volunteer position, where she’d written over 71 checks — probably adorned with adorable spaniels — to herself between July 2006 and March 2007.

Instead of putting her in jail for a 30-year sentence, the court sentenced Lippincott to 15 years’ probation. If she were incarcerated, she’d be unable to start paying back the money she owed.

She now works as a part-time professor at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale and is paying the stolen money back to the club. Lippincott must pay $500 a month until June 2009, and then her payment is doubled to $1,000 a month until the end of her probation.

According to prosecutors, Lippincott stole the money to help feed her growing addiction to Internet gambling, which is now under control. Sounds like someone needs a less expensive hobby. Maybe she should get a dog.

Tags: Accounting professor, Probation, Spaniels, University of Tampa