Woman who embezzled from Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association is arrested again
A Chelsea woman who was spared jail time in August when she was given an opportunity to begin paying back nearly $1 million she stole from the Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association has been arrested again.
Kimberly Kay Knight, 46, was arraigned this afternoon at the Washtenaw County Jail on two counts of writing checks without sufficient funds.
Kimberly Knight appears in court in this file photo.
Knight was arrested Monday, said Derrick Jackson, director of community engagement for the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department.
According to county prosecutors, Knight is accused of writing the bad checks in Dexter on Feb. 1. One check was for less than $100, while the other was for more than $100 but less than $500, authorities said. Both were written to the Dexter Pharmacy, Jackson said.
It’s unclear how the latest charges will impact her embezzlement case. On Aug. 24, Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Melinda Morris delayed sentencing to give Knight a chance to begin paying restitution. Knight had pleaded guilty in June to two counts of embezzlement, and Morris gave Knight a year to prove she’s capable of paying back the money and deserves probation.
Knight used her position as the organization's bookkeeper to write checks to herself and transfer money into her bank accounts between June 2005 and August 2007, Pittsfield Township police have said. Knight used the money for jewelry, elaborate family vacations and items including a 2005 Cadillac Escalade.
Knight's attorney in that case, Michael Le Gris, could not immediately be reached for comment this afternoon.
Knight was given a personal recognizance bond at her arraignment today. Her next court date for the new case is May 17. Knight is scheduled to appear in 14A-3 District Court in Chelsea at 9 a.m., jail officials said.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
jason conway
Tue, Jun 1, 2010 : 8:36 a.m.
I am having a very hard time understanding how this woman got probation for stealing one million (or even close to it) in the first place. I personally know a woman who received jail time for writing bad checks that amounted to less than two hundred dollars. She should have been locked up, and she would not have had the opportunity to go on and write bad checks. She will never pay that money back in the first place. I guess this all goes down to the fact she is a "hockey mom" fron Chelsea.
watchfuldad
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 11:07 a.m.
I know her and her family very well, I would have never thought that she would have ended up doing things like this. I'm just greatful that her grandparents are not here to see this. I also believe that she has not learned her lesson, and that she does deserve to go to jail, maybe then will she finally get, what she has done!!!!
15crown00
Thu, May 13, 2010 : 2:06 a.m.
This woman is a piece of work.TO JAIL WITH HER
paroleeplanet
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 6:17 p.m.
this story wasn't even about her pending charges related to the ice rink, and did you notice that the checks were written at the pharmacy? what are the chances that she has a substance abuse issue? lock her up and never ever ever let her out ever again!!!!! get tough on crime. we need to shut some more schools, lay off some more cops and firemen, cut the teachers pay and raise all of our taxes so we can get tough on crime!!! ohhh, wait a sec, engler tried that in the 90's, and look where it got us. anymore bright ideas? anyone? anyone?
Poppy
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 5:26 p.m.
As a bookkeeper I take much pride in the work I do. I have a good reputation and would never want that destroyed. Unfortunately it is stories like this that makes it that much harder for me to get new clients. My message to business owners is that there are still hardworking ethical bookkeepers but you need to check references!!! One thing I would like to point out is not only will she have to pay back the 1 mil. to the A2 Hockey Assoc. she will also have to pay the State of MI and IRS for the taxes and penelties on the money she stole.
dlarrouy
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 4:47 p.m.
who was the bleeding heart judge wsho did not put her in jail for stealing $1M will JudgeMorris have the guts to revoke her probation and put her in ajil? How much has she paid back ulnder her deffered sentence? I worked to elect Judge Morriss; LI hoope she at least does this reight.
gotigers2007
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 4:45 p.m.
Quite the story for bouncing a check!
jcj
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 3:53 p.m.
There is not much that needs being said about this women that has not already been said or implied. I would only wish that she would read what people think of her. Or at the least that her relatives or friends would pass on the sentiments of most of the people within the county.
pk
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 12:46 p.m.
Shame on her, she didn't learn her lesson yet. Have her p/u some Garbage on US 94/23 Honk when you see her. have her p/u at Easterns football Stadium. Her lawyer a hockey guy should drop her like a bad habit.
Mick52
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 11:12 a.m.
During my former career in LE, I investigated a lot of frauds. This one is huge and very sad. It is not unusual for probation for first time offenders because of the payback desire. But in a case like this, perhaps some evaluation of whether or not this person is capable of earning $1 million is at all possible. A year to prove such is quite generous. And I will never forget the words of Judge Connors in dealing with delinquent child support parents. He noted somehow they find the money once they are in jail. Here confinement might uncover whether or not some of the money is squirreled away somewhere. I wonder how much, if any she has so far paid back.
uawisok
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 11:02 a.m.
Too big too fail banks write checks they can't back all the time and then they get our tax money....if your going to steal make sure you have at least a masters degree and a nice suit and then the stealing is easy!!
schultz2005
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 10:19 a.m.
Get Joe Burke on the case. He's the ADA and he'll be sure to keep your "butt" in jail. Go for it Burke!!
Old Salt
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 10 a.m.
Lock he up and sell any assets she may have,if any
Trouble
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 9:48 a.m.
She More Smarter Than Judge
Gill
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 8:18 a.m.
Hand her a shovel and a hammer and get her started on building that ice rink.
Top Cat
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 8:07 a.m.
Other than the judge that sentenced her, there probably was not another person in Washtenaw County that believed this was going to work out.
krc
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 7:55 a.m.
Personal recognizance? What are the chances this woman will ever begin to pay back the million she owes? She is obviously not capable of this, and has no qualms about writing bad checks. Even if these were 'insufficient funds' checks it proves right there that she doesn't have the $$$ to pay back what she owes. How much can she make working weekends for her husband? That's just patently ridiculous.Her time would be better spent picking up trash along the highways.
xmo
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 7:41 a.m.
Is she running for Congress? She knows how to spend other peoples money real well!
RoboLogic
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 7:35 a.m.
It is important for the victims in this case to get as much money back as possible. The Judge had the victims in mind with the deferred sentence. Send her to prison first without a chance to try to pay back the funds...how does that help the Hockey Association? Here in Lenawee County the Judges try to do the same thing; combine payback with incarceration later. BUT... if you screw up here, its off to prison you go.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 6:40 a.m.
I don't have a problem with the intent behind the delayed sentencing originally. It seemed to be the only hope for the Hockey group to get their money back. But if the defendant is bouncing checks nearly 9 months in to her year to "prove shes capable of paying back the money and deserves probation", then I suggest 3 more months isn't going to change things. Her initials, K.K. remind me of another local celebratory struggling to make restitution.
glimmertwin
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 3:41 a.m.
She needs a calculator when balancing her checkbook.
15crown00
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 11:32 p.m.
She needs to GO TO JAIL.The judge need TO GO TO JAIL.They're both in serious need of professional help.Perhaps years of it.
Alan Benard
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 10:40 p.m.
If, as I have, you take an accounting course these days, fully 20 percent of your time is spent on ethics. The accountant is uniquely placed to rob a company blind, or assist corrupt corporate leadership to do wrong. Letting this woman skate on a million-dollar theft while in a position of trust is a bad thing. I thought so when this sentence was handed down, and I think doubly so today as we learn that this convicted embezzler cannot even run her personal checkbook.If she held up a liquor store for five hundred bucks, she'd be sitting in County Jail. Time for some prison time.
luv2fly1188
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 10:37 p.m.
Wow what a surprise...my cousin plays for this association and they already had to deal with this once. Why a judge didn't do more than slap her hand the first time is a shocker. She needs to do some legit jail time to make her learn a lesson. How can people be so ignorant and inconsiderate?
Poppy
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 10:09 p.m.
It sounds like she needs a bookkeeper!
RTFM
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 9:44 p.m.
Penalty Box she goes.
Tom Joad
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 8:08 p.m.
$1,000,000 from an amateur hockey league? I'm flabbergasted. The honorable judge needs to make an example out of her. Obviously this woman has ZERO fiscal responsibility--why are white collar criminals always treated with kid gloves?
Kayjay
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 7:44 p.m.
She is on probation to make restitution by working for her husband with her earnings designated to pay back association. Weekend jailtime would be a nice compromise. Looks like she is gonna mess up a good thing.
Brad
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 7:09 p.m.
White collar crime pays better. Steal a mil - get probation. Sweet deal or what?
John of Saline
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 6:56 p.m.
"Knight used the money for jewelry, elaborate family vacations and items including a 2005 Cadillac Escalade." So, sell her stuff for restitution. Simple enough.
roadsidedinerlover
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 6:51 p.m.
Does she deserve probation Judge Morris? I don't think so...she can't be trusted. She should serve time in jail to learn her lesson. Her family must be so proud of her...lol!
The Picker
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 6:39 p.m.
Hmmm, Force of habit?
BenWoodruff
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 6:17 p.m.
Judge Melinda Morris will continue to do as she always does, give the criminals a break. If there is a worse jurist in Washtenaw County, I'd like to know who they are...
scooter dog
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 5:42 p.m.
And the circus keeps on rolling.
Jay Thomas
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 5:20 p.m.
Would someone explain to me how the Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association even had a million dollars to steal? Did she steal 50k for twenty years? Something doesn't add up about this...
A2mom
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 5:15 p.m.
That's a shocker!