LETTER: Embezzlement is serious crime

I am the former executive of a now defunct chain of stores. One of our stores was in Kalispell. We did not have notable theft in the Kalispell store but did suffer losses elsewhere.

The distasteful experience with embezzlement and theft was not just business as usual; it became such a serious thing that if left unchecked can and does destroy the business itself. I know that from bitter experience, in and out of the former business.

The Daily Inter Lake story on Nov. 13 about Westland Seed is a very flagrant example of the discovery and handling of a case of embezzlement theft. When the discovery is made, most likely only the minimum provable portion of the loss is part of the eventual court case. I can only surmise that the loss of $26,000 by Westland Seed was most likely a much larger loss. The facts remain that Mr. Dovey, was found to be guilty and given a slap on the wrist deferred sentence.

The notation of restitution is also very suspect. The dirty facts are that partial and complete restitution are never made. Perhaps Mr. Dovey had other assets and that is a determinant because Westland Seed, or its insurance company, could make a civil case to seize those assets to help in their recovery and if they exist they would be correct in that effort.

Judge Christopher made one mistake. If Westland Seed had insurance and got some partial or complete recovery, that does not mean that Dovey should get off completely as he wants. The Insurance company is the surviving damaged entity and the payment of any restitution should go to them.

Just because Westland was insured, it should not mean that Dovey gets a “Get out of Jail, Free” card in a Monopoly game. And if Westland received some insurance recovery, the insurance company will just raise its rates to cover Westland in the future. That is not a gift that keeps on giving. —Jerrold A. Weissman, Great Falls