A Bookstore Manager at North Canyon High School in the Paradise Valley Unified School District has pleaded guilty to felony theft. An investigation shows that she had taken close to $73,000 from July 2007 to November 2009.
According to reports, she would take money from the cash register and generate false cash-register tapes to hide the missing money. The investigation reports that she would then deposit the money into her personal banking account and use the money to pay for car and home loans, eating out and shopping.
Reports also show that she would withhold cash receipts from weekly deposits and use the money to buy food and beverages for herself and her staff.
The Arizona Office of the Auditor General led the investigation. They began to investigate in April 2010 by the request of Paradise Valley school officials.
Typically, the North Canyon bookstore processes extracurricular tax-credit donations and other transactions such as parking permits, athletic programs, student ID cards and tests. Paradise Valley schools now use a different system in all of their schools to process such transactions and no longer use cash registers.
As part of her plea agreement, the former bookstore manager agreed to pay $72,511 in restitution to the school district. She pleaded guilty to once count of felony theft.
Theft occurs when a person, without lawful authority, controls the property of another with the intent to permanently deprive the other person of such property. It can also occur when a person converts services without authorization or when a person knowingly takes control, title, use or management of an incapacitated or vulnerable adult’s assets or property through intimidation or deception. Theft can either be classified as a simple misdemeanor or all the way up to a class two felony.
If you have been accused of theft, contact us today. We can use our years of experience to help prove your innocence. We are dedicated to providing individuals and juveniles with the best possible defense for the theft charges. Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer Charlie Naegle will fight to get you results.