Not guilty plea entered in theft case

THOMPSON FALLS – Vickie Caswell made her initial appearance in District Court on Tuesday, March 24 and entered a plea of not guilty.

Caswell was present with counsel for her initial appearance and when the presiding judge, James Manley, inquired whether the defendant was ready to proceed to arraignment, Caswell’s attorney, Martin Judnich, confirmed his client was.

Manley then asked how does the defendant plea.

Caswell responded with a plea of not guilty.

The plea of not guilty was entered and the case was scheduled for a jury trial on Monday, July 13 and for an omnibus hearing on Tuesday, May 26.

According to information supplied by Plains Police Chief Shawn Emmett, Sanders County Attorney Robert Zimmerman reinstated charges against Caswell, who is accused of embezzling from a local business in Plains, in early March.

According to information within the affidavit, Caswell was an employee of the High Plains Bar owned by Ronna LaPierre of Superior. Employees of the business, including Caswell, were allowed to advance themselves money from the bar up to 50 percent of their next paycheck.

On Oct. 16, 2014, LaPierre discovered that Caswell had violated the company policy by advancing herself $1,050 which, according to the affidavit, was at least twice what her next paycheck would have been.

On Dec. 31, 2014 at approximately 11 a.m., Caswell called 911 from the bar and reported someone had entered the establishment and stolen gaming money she was counting. Caswell said she went into another room and when she returned, the money was gone.

Plains Police Chief Shawn Emmett responded to the call. Caswell proceeded to show Emmett security camera footage which showed a male subject enter through the front door of the bar and steal the money from behind the counter. The video showed the male subject exit the same way he entered.

Emmett then went next door to the Sinclair gas station and also reviewed their security camera footage.

Emmett was notified that Caswell’s vehicle could be seen arriving and leaving the vicinity of the bar.

According to the affidavit, Caswell will be charged with three felony counts of theft of property by embezzlement in connection with the incident that took place at the High Plains Bar in December of 2014.

Each count carries a possible punishment of ten years of incarceration and/or a fine of up to $50,000.

Zimmerman is representing the prosecution, while Judnich represents the defense.