A clerk at a retail store in Pine Cove was arrested in June for allegedly stealing over $100,000 from the business over an eight-month period. Authorities were first alerted to the theft when the proprietors noticed that a large sum of money seemed to be missing.
After examining financial records and other information located at the store, investigators determined that the clerk was the likely source of the missing funds. He was allegedly taking money from the store’s till and ATM machine on a regular basis.
The suspect in this case was being held at Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on $85,000 bail. He was arrested at the location where the crimes allegedly took place without any struggle during an evening work shift. The man is being charged with burglary and embezzlement, and these are the first misdemeanor or felony criminal charges he has ever faced.
Detectives from the sheriff’s Hemet Station were responsible for investigating this issue. They will present their evidence to prosecutors and testify in front of a judge and jury if necessary. If convicted, the suspect could face expensive fines and prison time.
Individuals who are charged with or suspected of embezzlement may decide to make a plea agreement or go to trial. In either case, the defendant’s lawyer is responsible for carefully examining the circumstances of the case and recommending a legal strategy that represents the client’s best interests. If the case is sent from state to federal court, a different strategy may be required.