Woman who faked cancer asked judge for shorter sentence. Now she’s getting more time.

A woman who faked her and her son’s cancer in a money-making scam was given an additional six months in prison by a Madison County judge after the woman filed a motion for her sentence to be reconsidered.

When Judge Kyle Napp reconsidered Melissa Barton’s 18-month sentence Thursday, the conclusion she came to was the opposite of what Barton and her attorney, John Rekowski, had hoped for.

“The judge modified the sentence to be in compliance with the statute that say the minimum is 24 months, so she got another six months added,” State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons said. “It just shows you should be careful what you wish for.”

Barton was found guilty of two counts of felony theft by deception in July by Judge Napp, who sentenced her to 18 months and three years of probation. At Thursday morning’s hearing, Napp modified Barton’s charge from the less serious offense of theft from several people on social media to the more serious crime of theft from a church, the Alton Telegraph reported.

According to court testimony, at least one religious institution, First Baptist Church of Maryville, donated to Barton and her son on the pretense they had cancer.

This story was originally published August 31, 2017 at 6:39 PM with the headline "Woman who faked cancer asked judge for shorter sentence. Now she’s getting more time.."