Radio station embezzler pleads guilty
Jessica McGee admitted in District Court Thursday to embezzling up to $67,000 from a Kalispell Christian radio station.
The Flathead County woman initially pleaded not guilty to theft by way of embezzlement after being accused of stealing from Kalispell Christian Radio Fellowship Inc. while she worked as a bookkeeper from 2004 to 2009.
The company owns and operates KALS 97.1.
On Thursday, she reversed course and entered a guilty plea to a reduced charge of theft, a felony common scheme, after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 10. The Flathead County Attorney’s Office is recommending a maximum 10-year sentence with all but 14 days suspended.
McGee stole the money by using her access to the company’s bank account and credit cards, according to court documents.
Kalispell Christian Radio Fellowship Vice President Roger Lonnquist said in a prepared statement Wednesday that McGee stole from the company for years, seemingly without remorse. He reported the crimes to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office Aug. 11, 2009.
He expressed forgiveness for McGee, but also indicated she deserves punishment.
“Jessie is a human being, loved by God, who could still have a future if she gets her act together,” Lonnquist said. “It is our hope that when she is sentenced the judge will provide adequate punishment so that she can face and turn from her present way of life.”
According to court documents, McGee had access to the company’s finances and was largely responsible for paying bills.
Instead, she used $50,813 from the company bank account to pay for her own car payment, satellite TV service, credit card, insurance and other personal expenses, according to court documents.
She falsified books and balance sheets, and used company credit cards for $6,183 in personal expenditures. McGee also failed to pay $82,000 in taxes owed by the company to the Internal Revenue Service, according to court documents.
McGee said Thursday she used most of the money to pay bills, and said much of it went toward medical expenditures. She said she has since found new employment, and would repay the $67,000 stolen from the company.
Lonnquist said that sum doesn’t account for all that was taken. The IRS agreed to waive some fees, but the cost of correcting bookkeeping errors and balancing its budget was more than prosecutors could prove, he said.
“I’m so proud of our staff,” he said. “They have forgiven her for what she did to them, and many of them pray for her on a regular basis.”
Reporter Eric Schwartz may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at eschwartz@dailyinterlake.com