Accused embezzlers awaiting sentencing

SANDPOINT — Two Bonner County women are taking plea deals to resolve unrelated allegations that they embezzled from their former employers.

Rachelle Lee Kidney admitted Thursday forging checks on her employer’s bank account. In exchange for the admission, the state agreed to drop a felony theft charge, according to the terms of a plea agreement.

In a separate case, Wendy Anne Hansen is set to plead guilty to a reduced theft charge after paying restitution covering the thefts from her employer, court records said.

Kidney, a 24-year-old Elmira resident, was accused of stealing from Ponderay Home Center LLC between July and December of last year. Kidney, the company’s former business manager, allegedly deposited forged checks into her personal bank account and pocketed cash payments made to the business, according to probable cause hearing testimony.

As much as $30,000 was embezzled from the business, according to court records. A restitution sum in the case is pending.

Hansen, 39, of Sagle, is expected to plead guilty to a misdemeanor theft charge that was reduced from felony after she paid restitution to her former employer, Northern States Pest Control in Sandpoint. The thefts occurred between March and October of last year, charging papers said.

The restitution figure was not noted in court documents, although Chief Deputy Prosecutor Louis Marshall has said Hansen paid nearly $12,000 to Northern States.

Hansen, Northern States’ former office manager, is scheduled to enter a plea and be sentenced on May 27. Kidney is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17. The state is recommending Kidney receive a local jail sentence if she has no prior felony convictions, a plea agreement states.