Embezzler gets suspended sentence

A Kalispell woman was handed a 10-year suspended sentence in Flathead District Court Nov. 21 after pleading guilty to embezzling nearly $143,000.

District Judge David Ortley also ordered Taira Desart, 44, to pay a $400 public defender fee. She also was ordered to pay restitution.

Desart embezzled the money between 2005 and 2011 from Jesco Marine and Power Sports while working as the bookkeeper for the business.

It wasn’t discovered that any money was missing until May 2011, when an employee noticed money missing from several deposits while reviewing the books.

Desart initially denied taking any money before admitting her actions, and she was fired after signing a statement.

An audit of the first five months of 2011 discovered $12,377 missing, while a later, more complete audit brought the total losses to $142,723.

Desart had been the company’s bookkeeper for 17 years.