Marsh pleads guilty to lesser charges; won't face jail time
Trial vacated for WSC graduate suspected of cancer cover-up
Times Staff Writer
Originally published 2010-02-04



A trial was set. And it looked as if Tausha Marsh would contest claims that she faked a deadly disease while accepting an outpouring of community support — including tens of thousands of dollars.

However, Marsh, 29, has agreed to plead guilty to one felony and one misdemeanor charge in exchange for a reduced sentence that’s not expected to include jail time.

This past Friday, District Court Judge J. Steven Patrick tentatively accepted the agreement and set a date for sentencing.

Three felony theft charges and one felony count of fraud were filed against the Western State College graduate late last February. That was after friends of Marsh — who organized a highly promoted fundraising effort to aid what was believed to be her fight against cancer — became suspicious and brought the situation to law enforcement’s attention.

Gunnison Police detective Chris Danos obtained 19 pages of Marsh’s medical records from the execution of a search warrant in October 2008.

The documents indicated that Marsh had seen numerous doctors over the years to receive treatment for ailments that at times were suspected to be bone and cervical cancer. But none of them included an official cancer diagnosis.

Some family members, however, have insisted that Marsh has been treated for cancer at the Netherlands Cancer Institute and San Diego Cancer Center.

It’s also reported that Marsh told authorities the fundraising was initiated without her knowledge or consent and that she “didn’t want the money.”

District Attorney Myrl Serra said last April that local fundraising efforts netted at least $22,000.

As part of the plea agreement, Marsh has pled guilty to charitable fraud, a felony, and second-degree forgery, a misdemeanor.

In exchange, her sentence will be deferred for four years and she will be placed on probation for that time, the terms of which will be determined by the court. Also outlined under the terms of the agreement, Marsh will receive a mental health evaluation and donate $9,000 to the American Cancer Society or another charity acceptable to the court (roughly the same amount spent from the Tausha Marsh Life Day Cancer Fund for a laptop computer, travelers checks and miscellaneous fundraising expenses).

Marsh also agrees to pay restitution to the victims who contributed to the fundraising effort from money remaining in the fund’s account.

The plea agreement states that “the known contributors have been contacted by the District Attorney’s victim/witness staff and it appears that the amount remaining in the fund is sufficient to repay all contributors who wish to be repaid.”

The prosecution is not recommending jail time as a condition of probation. Sentencing is scheduled for April 9.

 

(Will Shoemaker can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or will@gunnisontimes.com)