Stephanie Pater
Stephanie Pater (January 24, 2013)


A former Tribune Co. executive who was taken into custody after skipping three court appearances on federal fraud charges was ordered released today after her parents posted their home as collateral for a bond and her ex-husband agreed to help try to keep her out of further trouble, officials said.

Stephanie Pater finally turned herself in last Friday after the U.S. Marshals Service contacted her lawyer and warned that she faced arrest.

U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan ordered her detained last week as a flight risk but said Pater could be released if she posted $200,000 worth of property to secure a bond and surrendered her passport.

Pater has been charged with defrauding the Tribune Co. of $260,000.

asweeney@tribune.com