As is typical with embezzlement charges, when a person admits to guilt in the case, they often state that they never intended to steal or do anything wrong, they just got in a situation that appeared to get out of control. That’s exactly what happened in a Washington state case, where a man plead guilty to embezzling from a non-profit industry trade group.
In this story from the Seattle PI, the defendant in the case stated that he “never intended to steal anything from anyone,” and “as things spiraled out of (control) I did not know what else to do.” These are both common refrains in these cases.
Typically, a person intents to temporarily borrow some money from the organization where they are entrusted. When, as is typical, no one even notices the first time, they try it again. Sometimes a person finds themselves facing continuing financial problems, and this seems like a quick solution. Or in other cases, they simply get used to the extra income, and don’t think about the consequences down the road.
Is it credible for someone to claim that they really didn’t intend to steal anything, even after, as the evidence suggests in this case, the person wrote 159 checks over 5 years? Many people would say this suggests a high level of willful ignorance, delusion, or outright lying.
Nevertheless, this is absolutely what people commonly say in these cases. Very few people truly feel in their hearts that they are criminals or bad people. It is just circumstances that get the better of them.
There is an essential truth here about human nature. A step or two down the wrong path can lead to dangerous places, for almost anyone.
This man currently faces just one count of 1st degree theft in Washington state, where he could face up to nearly 4 years in prison, and fines of $20,000.
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