Dayton woman pleads guilty to embezzling $130,000 from local company

A Dayton woman pleaded guilty Monday morning to embezzling more than $130,000 from a local company during the course of seven years.

Georgann McPeters will have to pay the victim, Sierra Furnace Works, $150,000 in restitution for the money embezzled over seven years. McPeters was writing checks out to her husband from the company, forging her boss’ signature to authorize the checks, and then depositing them without his knowledge, according to court documents.

McPeters was originally charged with theft — conversion or embezzlement of $3,500 or more and uttering forged instruments. She pleaded guilty to theft — conversion or embezzlement of $3,500 or more and faces a one to 10 years in prison as well as a fine up to $10,000, in addition to the restitution.

The victim wrote a check to himself in March of 2011 but was called by the bank and told his account was already $500 overdrawn. He then poured over statements with the bank and found checks made out to McPeter’s husband, who had not worked for the company since 2005.

McPeters told investigators she used the money for household expenses and did not have any money to pay the victim back immediately. She told investigators she would intercept all bank statements so her husband would not be aware of the checks coming in to their shared bank account in his name.

Her sentencing is set for July 1 at 9 a.m.

ALSO IN DISTRICT COURT

• Jeira Polanco and Timothy Sparacino had trial dates set after they were bound over to district court on nine counts of possession of stolen property $3,500 or more and a single count of possession of stolen property, $650 to $3,500.

Polanco and Sparacino are accused of having an apartment full of stolen property uncovered by the “gut feeling” of a Parole and Probation officer. The estimated value of the allegedly stolen property is over $300,000.

Sparacino’s trial was set for two weeks, from Sept. 17 to 27 and Polanco’s was set for Oct. 1 to 11.

• Joshua Grow pleaded not guilty to a charge of trafficking 28 grams or more of a controlled substance. His jury trial was set for July 30 through Aug. 2. If convicted, he would face a maximum of life with parole eligibility after 10 years or 25 years with parole eligibility after 10.

• Aaron Lane, 38, pleaded not guilty to a charge of battery domestic violence by strangulation. The charge carries a possible sentence of a year to five years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine. Trial has been set for May 29. Lane allegedly slapped the victim before grabbing her throat and pressing his thumbs into her neck and then punching her in the abdomen, according to the arrest report.

The victim was seven-weeks pregnant with Lane’s child on March 24, when the alleged battery occurred.

• David O’Connell pleaded guilty to DUI after a prior felony DUI conviction. He faces two to 15 years in prison and a $2,000 to $5,000 fine. Sentencing was set for June 10 at 9 a.m.