Chelsea woman who stole from Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association given chance to pay restitution
The new treasurer of the Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association isn’t pleased the woman convicted of embezzling nearly $1 million from the organization may not see time behind bars.
“Honestly, I think in a crime of this type, it’s to society’s benefit that people go to jail,” said Lindsay Aspegren, who has been the treasurer since June. “It’s calculated. Premeditated ... And honestly, I really think that people who are in a trusted position like this need to understand that they’re held to a higher standard.”
Today, a judge delayed sentencing for a year for Kimberly Kay Knight, 45, of Chelsea, who is the association’s former bookkeeper.
Knight, a married mother of three with no criminal record, pleaded guilty in June to two counts of embezzlement.
Under the agreement with Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Melinda Morris, Knight must pay $75,000 to the association within 10 days.
After that, she has to pay about $624,000 at a rate of a minimum of $1,500 a month. She also must pay $50,000 in restitution to an insurance company.
Knight has a year to prove she's capable of making the payments and deserves probation and not prison time.
Knight wrote checks to herself and transferred funds into her bank accounts between June 2005 and August 2007, Pittsfield Township police have said.
Investigators say Knight used the money for expensive jewelry, elaborate family vacations and items including a 2005 Cadillac Escalade.
She wasn’t desperate to pay a heating bill or buy shoes for her children, Karen Coulter, the association’s secretary, said during this afternoon’s hearing.
Knight has done irreparable damage to the association, the youths it serves and the Ann Arbor Ice Cube where it operates, Coulter said.
The group serves about 650 youths ages 4 to 19 and planned to build its own ice rink with money Knight siphoned away.
“Her only remorse was that she got caught,” Coulter said. “Her only fear was discovery.”
Knight, who was wiping away tears before the hearing, told the judge she was sorry.
Her attorney, Michael LeGris, said Knight paid $221,000 in restitution in 2007. Prosecutors say she was simply returning money she stole in an attempt to cover her tracks; it's unclear whether Knight knew at the time that she was a target of a criminal investigation.
Putting Knight in jail won’t result in the association receiving a dime, he said.
“She’ll sell everything she has to try and make the association whole,” he said.
Knight must sell her house and will work for her husband, but it’s unclear doing what.
Probation officers will have access to his company’s financial records to determine whether Knight is capable of paying more than the $1,500 a month, Morris said.
“You were in a position of trust,” Morris said. “You breached that trust and at the expense of many people in this community.”
Photo by Melanie Maxwell, AnnArbor.com: Kimberly Knight looks at the floor during her hearing today.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at leehiggins@annarbor.com or 734-623-2527.
Comments
AnnArBO
Thu, Aug 27, 2009 : 10:26 p.m.
I would love to know where the money came from to buy the towing company. If her husbands construction company struggled, its pretty obvious where they got money to buy a new company. Watch your back husband, it'll catch up to you sooner or later.
redwingsfan
Thu, Aug 27, 2009 : 9:59 p.m.
It really burns me up that this sorry excuse of a person stole this money from children and didn't get any jail time!It also burns me up that "Grant's Towing" is even mentioned in this thread.Grant is a close friend of mine and with the help of his son Frank, built that business up over two decades of blood,sweat and tears.Grant sold the business to Kim's husband a year ago and I know he is saddened to have his good name attached to this stupid crime!Nobody has even mentioned the ironic fact that Kim's dad is very wealthy.I hope he steps up and helps his daughter pay back the money she took from those kids!
aajeff
Thu, Aug 27, 2009 : 6:51 p.m.
It just makes me sick that criminals get away with stuff like this. My uncle's business was ruined, and he was forced to close his doors because of embezzlement by an employee. The women never served a day in jail and never repayed all the money she stole. (though she promised to....the prosecutor failed to pursue her) It's Judges like Melinda Morris that should never be elected again....
mi4198
Wed, Aug 26, 2009 : 1:48 p.m.
Hopefully she is not working as a bookkeeper for her husband. Since she is the wife, she can't be charged with embezzlement. I think they should have put her in jail and seized everything she owns like they do with people who sell drugs. Make her and her husband prove it was not the AAHA money they purchased the stuff with. I think Judge Morris should have put he in jail in a public square and allow all the kids to view what happens when you steal.
squeak101
Wed, Aug 26, 2009 : 7:51 a.m.
I am disgusted that she didn't get any jail time! Shame on Kim Knight, shame on Melinda Morris. She should have at least been tethered. Work and home only....with a balloon payment due in 1 yr. Do you know how much cash is involved with a wrecker service??? Who is watching the books? Kim Knight has gotten very good and what she does, she has been doing it a long time. Grants towing would not be my choice when I need a tow!!
hunter
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 6:53 p.m.
$1million is an awful lot for AAAHA to lose track of from fund raisers and donations, even if it was over a period of time. Weren't there primarily checks made payable to AAAHA that went through the bank. Imagine how much interst could have been made on that money and Knight will never pay back the principal. I agree $1500/mo is a pittance to be paying back for the sneaky crime she perpetuated.
rreidannarbor
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 6:11 p.m.
Even the AAHA players who get whistled for "high sticking" in the game get 2 more minutes incarceration then Ms. Knight does. Sadly, organizations like AAHA are there to help provide a positive experience for young people and be part of molding them into solid young people. Unfortunately, this disgrace is the largest example that many will remember of an otherwise wonderful experience for the kids and the truly dedicated parents who are the real victims of this. I think at least a 5 minute major at next season's opening game for Ms. Knight to spend in the sin bin is in order. Then at least the example is set for all to see. Oh, yes, you still have to pay the money back too.
Pam Wilson
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 3:29 p.m.
This is a federal crime and she should pay not only a fine but through prison time
klac1977
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 2:59 p.m.
You're right...the crime of bank robbery does typically involve violence and/or intimidation...this is true. But what about someone just entering someone else's house, through an unlocked door, when no one is home and stealing EVERYTHING (even stealing everything out of my home wouldn't add up to the amount of money this woman stole)...I cannot imagine that robber would be given such a lenient sentence. I guess it just seems to me as though the punishment is in no way reflective of the crime here.
Mumbambu, Esq.
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 1:24 p.m.
This ain't Scotland, Judge.
Keith
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 10:31 a.m.
Wow, crazy story. I'd be really interested in hearing AAAHA's opinion on her being allowed to walk free. If someone stole from me, I would rather them just go to jail then to have almost 40 years (!!) to pay me back 2/3 of the money. So for $18,000 a year, she gets her freedom. Did the judge factor in inflation into the length of the repayments? Using the inflation rate from the last 30 years, $1500 will only give you $443 of buying power in the year 2039...and she will still have another 8 years of payments to make at that point if the judge DIDN'T factor in inflation. What a mess.
lulumom9
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 10:23 a.m.
Does anyone know if the company business is a corporation and she is listed as a part-owner and/or director? That might make the difference as to why the probation officer has a right to examine the company financial records.
Barb
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 9:57 a.m.
The difference between this and robbery is that the crime of robbery involves violence or intimidation.
Pete Bigelow
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 9:39 a.m.
A comment has been removed from this thread because it was off-topic.
klac1977
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 9:24 a.m.
Also...I'm a bit confused as to why Probation Officers will have access to the company's financial records??? If her husband and his company knew nothing of what she was doing then that seems crazy. I manage a small business and have had numerous employees ordered to pay some type of note through payroll garnishments and the institution whom they were paying never ceased my financial records...only information that directly pertained to the employee who owed them the money...their payroll records. Doesn't make sense to me. Although, it probably has something to do with the fact that they're allowing her to work with family, who could be paying her minimum wage when it's obvious they could be paying her more...but that is why she should NOT be allowed to work for the family business to pay back what she stole.
pk
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 9:21 a.m.
GOOD. She should p/u garbage on the highway and EMU stadium to make sure she doesn't try this again.
klac1977
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 9:18 a.m.
Wow...that is unbelievable! I completely agree with many of the others who posted here...what is the difference between what she did and what a bank robber does? I might have a little bit of pity for this woman had she been stealing the money to make her house payment or to put food on the table for her kids but when she was stealing the money to buy jewelry, fund vacations & buy a Cadillac Escalade?! Noway. I think a work release program makes way more sense in this case - then she could still be working to pay the Association back but she wouldn't be allowed to live in her comfortable family setting while working with her husband! At least then maybe the woman who needs expensive jewelry and luxury vehicles would realize that it doesn't pay to steal - she should have to sleep in a cell, use the bathroom and shower with little privacy and understand that there are consequences to her actions. Ridiculous to say the least and scares me that our justice system is showing everyone just how easy it is to be a thief.
AnnArBO
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 8:25 a.m.
That money was not derived from player fees. AAAHA has lost money for the last five years, and publically stated so at board meetings. The money was from fund raisers and donations over decades and used to offset revenue shortages and allow players to get scholarships to play hockey. Now that endowment is gone, and the kids will suffer.
UPSman
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 8:21 a.m.
Does anyone really think she is going to pay back that kind of money? It's like gaining weight - so easy to put on but unbelievably tough to lose. Money is so easy to spend but as many know just with their credit cards - oh so hard to pay off.
lewismbruno
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 8:19 a.m.
There were two thefts in a way here... Has anyone been asking why AAAHA had nearly a million banked? My son, who for years earned and paid half of the $1,000-plus it cost to play each season of hockey, never knew he was contributing to a hidden savings fund. Why was the org banking so much?
AnnArBO
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 8:19 a.m.
Amazing........I sat in that court room and watched her get everything she wanted. The probation Dept. came up with what they thought she could pay, she asked for a delay two weeks ago to come up with the money so she would not go to jail. Shows up yesterday with only half, claims she is working for her husbands company with no pay, and the judge accepts the half payment and asks the probation dept. to make sure she is properly compensated by her husbands company. THEN her lawyer says "we are waiting for some checks to clear" before we can pay the $75K, and the judge gives her another ten days and still no jail.......Talk about working the system. Judge Morris says all the emotion and anger is understandable, but the law is the great equalizer. Sure did apply the law here, let her set the restitution amount, and delay paying it along with taking a job with no pay. Anyone else see the obvious manipulation going on, Wake up Melinda!!!!!!!!!
lulumom9
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 7:55 a.m.
Wow, if I'm going to embezzle money, I'm doing it in Washtenaw County and hoping for Melinda Morris as my judge. I'm staying out of Jackson County. A lawyer, Richard MacQuillan, embezzled $900,000 from a deceased client's account that he was managing and he spent the entire time before his trial in the county jail and then was sentenced to 20 years in jail. The judge went for the maximum penalty in that case to prove to people that embezzling is a major crime. I understand that the husband says he knew nothing about what was going on, but I think if an Escalade showed up in my garage, I'd really start asking some serious questions.
jacksmom
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 7:50 a.m.
I'm really torn. I would like the association to get its money back (but how feasible is that really.....)and I would also like this criminal to go to jail. I don't know the answer as to her punishment, but surely some jail time should have been part of the equation. At least put her on electronic monitoring. Why should she be allowed to roam about freely and enjoy life after a crime like this? But then again, the money needs to be paid back. Like I said, I don't know how to feel about this, except I absolutely think she's getting off way too easy.
DebbieDora2
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 6:27 a.m.
What is this telling people to commit crimes?YOU HAVE NOW SET A NEW PRECEDENT ITS OKAY TO STEAL AND BREAK THE LAW THE LAW FREE FOR ALL!There was the Community Center and so many others for far less go to jail.Its like when I was missing money from my account and many other people they fired the employee and I closed my act they reappeared at another bank. Oh but accidentally be short in your bank act by 1cent and OH MY!WHY THE DOUBLE STANDARD :SOME OF THE EMBEZZLERS WENT TO JAIL THE OTHERS SLAP ON THE WRIST? LAW IS LAW
A2Dave
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 6:03 a.m.
So, Judge Morris, if you rob a bank but promise to give the money back.....? So, as long as you make restitution, there should be no punishment for embezzling nearly $1 million from a charitable social organization? Interesting approach to criminal justice, Your Honor.
Sherry
Tue, Aug 25, 2009 : 1 a.m.
I have to agree with the ones who said what they said about Melinda Morris. It is all true. She does reward for crime committed and should be recalled. This money will never be fully paid back, We are not idiots to know this. And, along with Morris being recalled, also should Donald Shelton and Archibald Brown and put Judge Nancy Brown in a higher charge. She is honestly our only HONEST Judge we have and Archibald has her doing PPO's. We need a total Judge overhaul here. A crime was committed and the woman got a slap on the wrist as Morris knows this money will never be paid back in full. What a sad reflection for Ann Arbor with 3 Poor judges. Not just Morris.
Art Vandelay
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 : 8:11 p.m.
Put me down for a big donation to oust Melinda Morris. There are a lot of people doing serious time in prison for much smaller crimes than this. Just because she didn't use a gun doesn't minimize the damage she did. The crime here is letting a criminal go free.
djm12652
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 : 7:43 p.m.
This thief appeared in an Ann Arbor court and everyone knows there is no crime in 'borrowing' from the kitty...yeah..right... But not jail time? She should be in jail, released on a daytime work furlough then back to the slammer...not rewarded by being allowed to be with her family. Jail sentences are to punish criminal acts...Judge Morris seems to have a habit of rewarding this behavior.
Otto Mobeal
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 : 7:14 p.m.
RECALL Melinda Morris! The sad thing about this type of crime is that this is a typical sentence for this type of crime. She will probably pay a pitance, then plead for leniency, which she will probably get. Why rob banks for $1000 and get a long sentence (+5 years for the gun) when you can steal 1000 times that amount and never see a prison? Who says crime doesn't pay? Especially with naive judges? What ever happen to minimum sentences?
Lindy
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 : 6:55 p.m.
How long before her husband files for divorce. He must have been aware that money was coming in from somewhere. My boys played hockey in Chelsea and it takes hard earned money to let them play this sport. How could anyone go on vacation on dirty money.
Macabre Sunset
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 : 5:20 p.m.
Amazing. Crime DOES pay. Worst-case scenario, she's getting a 0%-interest loan for 40 years from the association. Not even Obama could give me that kind of benefit. Melinda Morris. I'll have to remember to vote against her if I ever see that name on a ballot.
ChrisW
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 : 5:12 p.m.
How about you make her pay back the money AND go to jail? Best of both worlds. Cut her sentence by 5% for every 10% she returns to the club. This woman doesn't deserve freedom. We need to start electing a different class of judge around here. This isn't the first embezzlement case to see this kind of leniency.
11GOBLUE11
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 : 5:10 p.m.
http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/09/man_avoids_prison_for_second_t.html Classic reading for any fans of Melinda Morris.
dianefw07
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 : 4:38 p.m.
1. They intitally asked her to bring $160,000 today or AAAHA would not stay solvent. Why didn't they ask for another $75,000 in two months or she went to jail? I bet she would have found more money quickly. 2. She was ordered to sell her house. Do they know if she will even make a dime on the house? How much does she owe? 3. She gets a year to make payments of $1500 a month. Why wasn't there a "balloon" payment at the end of the year of another $100,000 or she goes to jail? 4. They asked for quarterly financial statements from she and her husbands company. Do they really think they are going to show a profit so they can pay more monthly restitution? Who will monitor if the numbers they provide are real?? Is there an audit done? You take the word of an embezzler for the financial statements? What happened in that courtroom today?
Shark
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 : 4:01 p.m.
I do like that she has to sell off all those nice items she bought to help pay back the rest of the money. Having her work to pay back the money is wonderful idea, instead of us, the public, paying to support her in jail.
naturally
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 : 3:26 p.m.
Sounds fair to me. What purpose does it serve to put her behind bars where the citizens have to pay for her expenses? Make her pay the money back.
Barb
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 : 3:24 p.m.
That's amazing. It assumes an awful lot will go right in her life from this point forward. But on the flip-side, if she goes to jail, she can't earn the money to pay it back. What a cruddy situation for the AAAHA.
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Aug 24, 2009 : 3:16 p.m.
Anybody do some math on this? $624k + $50k /$1500/12 = 37.4 years. How old is she. Good luck with this one.