Accused embezzler is charged

A Kalispell woman accused of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from a Kalispell law firm was arrested last week.

Kiersten Berdette Compofelice, 38, is charged with felony theft by embezzlement and the unlawful use of a computer, also a felony.

Compofelice, who was arrested Feb. 4, is free on $5,000 bail. Reached by phone in Texas, she had no comment for this story.

According to court documents, Compofelice used her position as the Lonnevik Law Firm's operations manager to forge $42,500 in checks between March 2008 and January.

Prosecutors allege that Compofelice made paper copies of the checks out to herself and then doctored the law firm's account books to show that the checks had been written to legitimate vendors. The embezzlement was discovered this month when the firm's bank asked owner Tiffany B. Lonnevik to validate her signature on some checks, which Lonnevik told the Inter Lake on Thursday had been forged.

Compofelice also is accused of racking up $7,850 in personal purchases on a company credit card and electronically transferring $2,800 from the firm's bank accounts into her personal account.

She is the only person other than Lonnevik to have access to the business's bank accounts, checks, transfer capabilities, and credit cards, court records show.

"This hits hard on an emotional level as well as a financial level," said Lonnevik, who had been close friends with Compofelice, also known as KC, for more than three years. "This is a huge betrayal of trust for me. I never would have given just anybody access to my books."

The embezzled money came solely from the firm's accounts and has had "absolutely no impact" on clients, who "will not be affected in any way by this," Lonnevik said.

Investigators believe Compofelice, who was hired at the law firm in March 2008, spent the embezzled money on personal purchases, including furniture and clothes.

The amount of money Compofelice is suspected of stealing could grow as the investigation continues, Kalispell police Detective Kevin McCarvel said.

"It's still pretty early right now," he added.

Lonnevik has hired a forensic accountant to determine the extent of the theft, the total amount of which she said has yet to be ascertained.

At one point, Compofelice was caught charging personal items to the company credit card and agreed to pay back that amount, McCarvel said.

"But there were other things happening as well that were not realized," he added.

If convicted on both counts, Compofelice could face as long as 20 years in prison and more than a $50,000 fine. She has yet to be arraigned.

The Lonnevik Law Firm, which employs three attorneys, specializes in family law.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com