Vancouver woman gets 3 days for theft from nonprofit

A Vancouver woman was sentenced Thursday to three days in jail, which she’s already served, for embezzling more than $41,000 from a local nonprofit that offers dental services to low-income patients.

Charlotte Allen-Dinsdale, 37, a former receptionist at Vancouver’s New Day Community Dental Clinic, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft in exchange for the reduced charge. Superior Court Judge Barbara Johnson sentenced her to three days in jail based on a plea deal struck by Deputy Prosecutor Colin Hayes and Dinsdale’s attorney, John Terry.

Dinsdale was responsible for scheduling appointments, collecting payments and insurance billing at the clinic at 2101 S.E. Tech Center Drive, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in court.

Another employee discovered discrepancies between the clinic’s income and deposits and found evidence that Dinsdale had been deleting appointments and payments from the computer, the affidavit says.

Court records state that independent accountant Tiffany Couch conducted an audit investigation, discovering that the clinic lost more than $41,000 between March 2011 and Feb. 1, 2012. About $35,497 was attributed to missing cash payments and another $6,154 stemmed from write-offs of 16 visits by members of Dinsdale’s family.

Dinsdale also will be required to pay restitution to the clinic. The amount is still being negotiated, Terry said.