Woman jailed for embezzling

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County woman who resorted to embezzlement to cope with financial struggles was given a suspended prison term Thursday and ordered to serve 90 days in jail.

Monica Rose Reeves tearfully apologized in a barely audible voice when she was sentenced for grand theft in 1st District Court.

“I regret the decisions that I made,” Reeves told Judge Barbara Buchanan.

Reeves, 32, admitted embezzling $30,779 from Sandpoint Building Supply in Ponderay while employed as a bookkeeper. The embezzlement involved skimming store tills and writing up orders for returned merchandise and applying the proceeds to her personal credit cards, according to a Ponderay Police reports.

The thefts were discovered in 2011 and Reeves readily confessed to committing them when she was confronted.

Reeves clutched a wad of Kleenex and grimaced as her defense counsel, Sandpoint attorney Bryce Powell, recounted how her family’s aspiration to attain the American dream of owning a home became a fiscal nightmare.

 “She made some very poor choices and regretful decisions,” said Powell. “There’s no way to sugarcoat it.”

Bonner County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Shane Greenbank, who served as a proxy for Deputy Prosecutor Roger Hanlon during the hearing, said the state was recommending suspended four-year prison term and up to 180 days in jail.

Buchanan called the case “incomprehensible” given Reeves did not have a troubled background or substance abuse issues. Reeves is also active in her church and even donated a kidney to a stranger.

Buchanan said Reeves had essentially lived a double life.

“It’s an incredible mistake and it’s not just once. You were repentant, you confessed, but after you got caught,” said Buchanan.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Reeves was fined $1,000 and placed on probation for five years. She was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.

Reeves came to court with a check for $30,779, which Powell said family members loaned to her.