Former Washtenaw Dairy employee who allegedly embezzled thousands pleads no contest

Posted on Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 7:40 p.m.

Former Washtenaw Dairy employee who allegedly embezzled thousands pleads no contest

By Kyle Feldscher

The former Washtenaw Dairy employee who allegedly embezzled thousands of dollars from the store during the past several years pleaded no contest to one count of embezzlement as a part of a plea deal Wednesday.

David Halman

David Halman, who originally faced two charges of embezzling more than $999 but less than $20,000 and two charges of embezzling more than $1,000 but less than $20,000, paid the full restitution owed to Washtenaw Dairy before he announced his plea. Halman was allowed to plead no contest to the charge of embezzling more than $999 but less than $20,000 because of potential civil liability.

Halman and his attorney Michael Gatti made a sentencing agreement with Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Archie Brown that he would face no up-front jail time. Halman is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 9.

According to records from the Michigan Department of Corrections, Halman was convicted 10 years ago of false pretenses of $20,000 or more in Macomb County. Washtenaw County Dairy owner Jim Smith, who was in court Wednesday to accept the cashier’s check for the restitution, said previously that Halman disclosed the conviction to him when he was hired, and Smith believed he deserved a second chance.

Halman was not in custody when he appeared in court Wednesday.

The maximum penalty for the one count of embezzlement Halman pleaded no contest is five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine and/or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater. Brown said the sentencing agreement called for probation.

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Comments

eom

Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 12:50 a.m.

Although no one deserves to be embezzled...really!? The Dairy!? These are people who work hard, give back to their community, create an amazing sense of community and are loved by everyone. Jim Smith is an amazing part of our community - I hope this man is deeply ashamed of himself. I know I am.

tinkerbell

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 10:58 p.m.

I'm sure Jim Smith is bitter about hiring criminals and rightly so.

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 8:38 p.m.

Give him the maximun.

BhavanaJagat

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 4:48 p.m.

I want to thank Jim Smith, the owner of Washtenaw Dairy for his kindness and for his decision to hire a person with criminal record to give him a second chance in life. This employee could not reform himself and had failed his employer who had reposed his trust in him. I want to tell David Halman about the 'Covenant of Salt'. There is a binding agreement or contract between two parties where one is provider and the other is a beneficiary. The recipient of a benefit must never cause any harm to the person who is providing the benefit. It is immoral to cause any kind of loss while this Covenant of Salt exists. If David has no option other than that of stealing to makes the ends meet, he should have chosen a different person other than his provider or employer. We all commit sin for different reasons, and at a minimum, we should avoid this sin called transgression of the Covenant of Salt.

gofigure

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 12:36 p.m.

Wonder if he pay the restitution from the $$ he embezzled....

Gorc

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 6:54 a.m.

A2.com - how much was the restitution?

Tru2Blu76

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 5:27 a.m.

IMO: this guy has a serious problem that needs professional treatment. OTH: anyone who can lie like that and deceive like that may have a great future as a politician. (Pssst, Mr. Halman, send your resume to the Republican Party first.)

cinnabar7071

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 11:27 a.m.

He would fit in better with the likes of charlie Rangel and the democrats.

worldchamp

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 8:10 a.m.

Last time I checked I think all of the smart Republicans left the county

Roadman

Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 11:53 p.m.

The fact that Halman paid the restitution and shall receive no prison term is the typical "quid pro quo" in criminal embezzlement cases in Washtenaw County. The restitution check is a functional equivalent of a Monopoly "get out of jail card". All sides walk away feeling they have been made whole.

Forever27

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 6:32 p.m.

@thomas, there is no need for jail time in this case. The debt was paid and Halman will have probation to deal with. Why waste a jail cell incarcerating him?

Thomas

Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 1:07 p.m.

That's because the jails are full and the tax payers don't want to fund a bigger jail.

EyeHeartA2

Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.

So, no longer alleged then, right?