PC embezzler gets probation, must pay $60,000 restitution
A woman who stole nearly $60,000 from the Park City Water and Sewer District will spend six years on probation and must pay back the entire sum during that time.
Courtnie Jean Davis, 39, appeared in district court on May 26 and received a 6-year deferred sentence for one count of felony theft by embezzlement. Under the terms of a plea agreement, Davis must also abide by 27 court-imposed conditions.
In imposing the sentence, District Judge Blair Jones said that incarceration would not help the situation and that there is a “good plan” to pay back the stolen money. Jones also ordered Davis to find a job, to which her attorney said might not be easy due to a medical condition. Jones said he would need proof of such a condition from a doctor before waiving that requirement.
Jones said the sentence provides accountability for Davis as well as community protection through Davis’s supervision.
The restitution will be paid to the county’s insurance provider, as that company has already covered the money that was stolen, said Stillwater County Attorney Nancy Rohde.
THE CASE
According to court documents, the Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office was called in May 2015 by Board Chairman Myron Gross and billing clerk Bonnie Demaniow who trained Davis to take over her position. Davis was hired in March 2014 and worked with Demaniow for one month to learn the billing and account process.
In within a month or two, the water board began questioning the billing process as they, as well as the Stillwater County Commissioners, were receiving complaints that Davis “was never in the district office during her working hours,” according to court documents.
In May 2014, Gross met with Davis at her request, at which time she allegedly admitted she was stealing money by writing checks to herself and then altering the bank statements and reports to conceal that. At that time she estimated she had stolen approximately $50,000. An audit revealed the amount of the theft totaled $53,689.55, according to court documents.
Davis and her attorney met with Deputy Randy Smith and admitted she had stolen more than $50,000