Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Clerk admits stealing from employer

Sanders pleads guilty to felony, 3 other charges dismissed


By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Terri Sanders, a former bookkeeper for Espinoza Flooring in Ketchum, pleaded guilty Monday to felony grand theft. Seated next to Sanders is court-appointed public defender Kevin Cassidy. Photo by Willy Cook

The former bookkeeper for a Ketchum flooring company admitted Monday to stealing a check worth more than $3,500 from her employer in 2006.

Terri L. Sanders, a 44-year-old Bellevue woman, entered a guilty plea to a single count of felony grand theft before Judge Robert J. Elgee in Blaine County 5th District Court. In exchange for her guilty plea, the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney's Office agreed to have three other felony charges—another count of grand theft and two counts of forgery—dismissed.

All four of the charges, filed against Sanders in August 2009, accused her of misappropriating funds from Espinoza Flooring in 2006.

In pleading guilty, Sanders admitted depositing a $3,694 check written to company owner Blas Espinoza into her own account rather than into a company account.

At Monday's hearing, Sanders told Elgee she was pleading guilty "because I am guilty."

Elgee told the defendant that grand theft is punishable in Idaho by up to 14 years in prison. The judge also advised Sanders that by pleading guilty, she will lose her right to bear arms, serve on a jury, vote and hold public office.

Sentencing was set for April 26.

In accord with a plea agreement, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Fredback said he is recommending that Sanders be given a suspended five-year prison sentence, serve three months in the county jail and be placed on three years probation.

Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com




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