Plea hearing is set in case

SANDPOINT — An entry-of-plea hearing is set for a Washington state woman accused of embezzling from her former employer, 1st District Court records show.

Pamela Ann McGrath is charged with burglary, grand theft and forgery for allegedly using Sandpoint Title Insurance’s checking account to draft checks to herself in December 2017, according to court documents. A pretrial conference was scheduled for last Thursday, although it was continued and supplanted by the plea hearing.

McGrath, a former escrow officer at Sandpoint Title Insurance, is accused of manipulating the company’s accounting records in an attempt to cover her tracks, according to a Sandpoint Police report. McGrath abruptly left work and took her personal affects with her around the time of the police investigation, court records show.

McGrath, 52, was confronted at her former residence in Ponderay and allegedly admitted to the wrongdoing.

She reportedly told police that she developed a gambling addiction to cope with the death of her parents. McGrath said the extent of the thefts exceeded $2,000 and may be as high as $5,000, according to court documents.

McGrath, who has no prior record in Idaho, is free on her own recognizance while the case is pending.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.