A former Vancouver Bolt & Supply employee was sentenced Friday to three years in prison for stealing more than $475,000 from the business between 2006 and 2010.
Geneva Bethany DeGagne, 38, of Vancouver appeared in Clark County Superior Court to be sentenced on 30 counts of second-degree theft and one count of third-degree theft.
In an agreement with the prosecution, DeGagne previously pleaded guilty in exchange for downgraded charges. She originally faced 52 counts of first-degree theft and one count of second-degree theft. The charges followed a lengthy investigation.
DeGagne was employed with Vancouver Bolt for about 10 years, mostly in the accounting department. Deputy Prosecutor Jeff McCarty said she was tasked with updating clients’ accounts and making deposits. During that time, she siphoned money and manipulated accounts to hide her tracks, he said.
The business hired Acuity Forensics to conduct the theft investigation and discovered DeGagne stole at least $476,000.
“We will never know the true amount, but that’s what we can prove,” McCarty said. “Her actions hurt a lot of people. It hurt a business. And, it hurt a family, multiple families.”
Several people associated with the company, including the owner, Craig Johnson, and one of the founders, Doris Johnson, read statements to the court describing the impact on the business and its employees.
Some employees were laid off, while others took serious pay cuts as the business tried to combat the crippling debt.
“Thanks a lot, Geneva. You screwed up many lives,” Doris Johnson said. “I cannot believe you repaid the Johnson family by trying to ruin their future.”
Craig Johnson told DeGagne that although he’s saddened by her actions, he doesn’t hate her. “I don’t hate anyone,” he added.
“If you did indeed think you were sticking it to the man, you missed me. You didn’t stick it to me. Instead, you stuck it to the whole group,” he said.
DeGagne’s defense attorney, Therese Lavallee, said her client had no criminal history before this incident, and she believes there is an underlying psychological reason for why she embezzled the money.
“She’s desirous of addressing whatever those issues are,” Lavallee said.
She said DeGagne’s situation spiraled out of control and “it wasn’t discovered until very late.”
“In the end, the most important thing is that she’s taking full responsibility. She is agreeing to take the full sentence and admitted to the conduct from the get-go,” Lavallee said. “She’s working on becoming a better person. She has great remorse and is ready to serve her time and pay back.”
DeGagne declined to add anything further.
Judge Derek Vanderwood said he was happy to hear DeGagne recognized the negative impact of the situation. However, the impact was significant and not an isolated incident.
“It happened over time and affected people’s lives in a real and significant way,” he said.
Vanderwood agreed to follow the attorney’s sentencing agreement. In addition to three years in prison, DeGagne will spend two years on probation, related to the misdemeanor charge, and was ordered to pay $476,000 restitution.
“I think justice was served. I’m looking forward to … Geneva paying us back after she serves her time in prison,” Craig Johnson said.
“Probably one of the saddest parts of this is the damage done to the employees who suffered through wage cuts, and there was damage to their credit. One of my folks lost his house because of this,” he said. “The impact wasn’t just to the business, but to the employees and, eventually, the community, because we’ve always been very generous in contributing to the community. During this time, that’s one of the things that had to be cut.”
