Two former employees of The Academy were sentenced Thursday for embezzling what the prosecution says was about $115,000 from the company that rented out the historic former school and orphanage as a special events venue.
Mignon “Yvette” Payne, 59, and Douglas M. Ramirez, 63, both of Vancouver, pleaded guilty, separately, in Clark County Superior Court. Payne pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree theft and was sentenced to 13 months in prison. Ramirez pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree theft and two counts of second-degree theft. He received a 90-day jail sentence but may be able to serve it through the work release program.
Payne, The Academy’s former manager, rented out space in the venue and asked customers to write checks out to “Academy Events” instead of the company’s names, which include “The Academy” and “Northwest Academy,” according to a probable cause affidavit.
The checks written to “Academy Events” were then deposited into Ramirez’s bank account. He founded a business and obtained a business license for “Academy Events,” the affidavit said. Payne and Ramirez were a couple at the time. Neither had prior felony criminal history.
Payne was hired in 2011, and Ramirez was hired shortly after to work in The Academy’s maintenance department.
Payne did not inform the owners of The Academy, Oliver and William Hidden, about all of the events that were held at the venue, court records said.
The Hiddens hired forensic accountant Tiffany Couch to investigate Payne because they suspected she was keeping some of the company’s rental money, court records show. The information was then turned over to the Vancouver Police Department, which obtained a search warrant for Ramirez’s bank account.
According to the affidavit, it was initially thought that Payne and Ramirez stole more than $75,000. However, Deputy Prosecutor James Smith said the audit actually found that more than $115,000 was stolen during a 19-month period.
The Hiddens have since sold the company, now referred to as Providence Academy, to the Fort Vancouver National Trust.
On Thursday, Judge Daniel Stahnke agreed to follow the attorneys’ previously agreed-upon sentencing recommendation for Ramirez. However, he said he felt Payne should serve the middle level rather than the low end of her possible sentencing range.
Oliver Hidden addressed the court and said he believes Payne “plotted to take over the wedding business for a long time.”
Payne and Ramirez will have to jointly pay $175,000 in restitution.
