[Vision2020] UPDATE: Sentencing for Secind Felony Theft Conviction in Latah County: No Jail Time Plus a Withheld Judgment

[Saundra Lund]

For those interested, here's an update on the plea bargain Mr. Fox wrote
about back in March.  This article appeared on page 2A of today's
(5/12/2004) _Moscow-Pullman Daily News_:

"District judge rejects Iverson's embezzlement plea bargain 

Staff report

A Deary woman's plea agreement was rejected in Latah County District Court
Tuesday. 

Tamara Iverson, 35, who has been charged with embezzling $6,670 from the
Troy 4-H/FFA Booster Organization, will appear in court May 20 to revise her
plea. Iverson was the treasurer for the group from January 2000 to January
2003. 

Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson said Judge John Stegner
rejected the plea because more information had become available about the
case in the last several months. The agreement had been drafted by members
of Thompson's office and Iverson's attorney, Gregory Dickison of Moscow. 

"The judge, quite properly, decided that the original plea agreement was not
appropriate," Thompson said. "I agree wholeheartedly." 

More people in Troy have come forward to voice their concerns with the case,
and Iverson's degree of acceptance of responsibility for the alleged acts
have been evaluated, Thompson said. 

The plea agreement stated that Iverson would receive a withheld judgment and
be placed on probation for an amount of time to be determined by Stegner.
She also would pay a restitution amount of approximately $5,000. The plea
agreement does not include incarceration because of jail time she already
served in a similar embezzlement case. 

In June 2003, Iverson was found guilty in federal court of embezzling
$10,950 from customer accounts while she was employed by U.S. Bank in
Moscow. She was sentenced to two months imprisonment, four years probation
and restitution of $10,950. 

At 4 p.m. May 20, Iverson will be given the chance to restate her guilty
plea or enter a not guilty plea and go to trial, Thompson said. 

"The judge is assessing, overall, what is an appropriate consequence for her
actions," he said."
____

Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.
-Edmund Burke

-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com] On
Behalf Of Art Deco aka W. Fox
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2004 11:44 AM
To: Vision 2020
Cc: Nathan Alford Daily News; Hillary Hamm Daily News
Subject: [Vision2020] Sentencing for Secind Felony Theft Conviction in Latah
County: No Jail Time Plus a Withheld Judgment


Concerned Latah County Citizens,

Below the line is an article from today's (03/27/04) Daily News written by
Hilary Hamm.

Does anyone have any concern about the sentence being agreed to by the Latah
County Prosecutor's Office?

The is the second offense of a large amount of money stolen by the criminal.
The first crime:  theft of $10,950 from a local bank.  The second crime
(pending adjudication):  theft of $6,670 from the Troy 4-H/FFA Booster
Organization.  How much lower can you get?

A plea bargain is being offered by the prosecutor's office with no jail time
and with a withheld judgment to boot.

Why a plea bargain?  Why no jail time?  Why a withheld judgment?  We are not
talking about shoplifting a candy bar from WalMart.  We are talking about
two large thefts. Is the Latah county Prosecutor's office running a spa for
serious offenders?  What are they thinking?

What message does this proposed sentence send to potential embezzlers?  Does
it mean that if you are not caught, all is OK.  If you are caught, you only
have to give the money back, but not go to jail and not have a record of the
crime.  Sounds like a win-win situation for the criminal.  Will didos like
this attract more criminals to Latah County?

Why doesn't the prosecutor's office take the case to trial and let the chips
fall where they may?  I thought that was what taxpayers were paying for.

Has the sloth in the county prosecutor's office now reached such a dizzy
height that even seasoned law enforcement officers are openly appalled by
many of the plea bargains made?

Am I missing something?  Does anyone agree or disagree with the prosecutor's
decision?

Please educate me.

Wayne

Art Deco  (Wayne Fox)
deco@moscow.com



__________________________________________
Deary woman to face charges of grand theft 


Hillary Hamm

A Deary woman will appear in court May 3 on charges of grand theft. 
Tamara Iverson, 35, has been charged with the felony for allegedly
embezzling $6,670 from the Troy 4-H/FFA Booster Organization between January
2000 and January 2003 when she acted as treasurer for the groups. 
Latah County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Evans said a tentative
plea agreement has been reached with Iverson. 
"Basically, we want her to be held accountable to all the victims and the
community because she's destroyed a lot of faith and trust in that
organization and that needs to be rebuilt," Evans said. 
Iverson's attorney, Gregory Dickison of Moscow, could not be reached for
comment. 
The plea agreement states that Iverson will receive a withheld judgment and
be placed on probation for an amount of time to be determined by Superior
Court Judge John Stegner. 
Iverson also must pay a restitution amount of approximately $5,000, Evans
said. She has already voluntarily repaid the booster organization nearly
$3,500 within the last year. 
The plea agreement does not include incarceration because of jail time she
already served in a similar embezzlement case. 
In June 2003, Iverson was found guilty in a federal court for embezzling
$10,950 from customer accounts while she was employed by U.S. Bank in
Moscow. She was sentenced to two months imprisonment, four years probation
and restitution of $10,950. 
Members of Troy 4-H/FFA Booster Organization reported the latest alleged
embezzlement in June. Iverson became treasure of the organization in 1999
and was responsible for the checkbook and bank account until 2003. 
Hillary Hamm can be reached at 
(208) 882-5561, ext. 228, or by 
e-mail at hhamm@dnews.com.