EVERETT — A former volunteer with the Terrace Brier Soccer Club was ordered to surrender to jailers Thursday after a judge sentenced the Lynnwood woman to a year in prison for embezzling about $75,000 from the nonprofit group.
Lynn Wyatt, 41, broke down in tears when she apologized for rippi
ng off the club, which serves about 700 youths in south Snohomish County.
“Stealing the money was wrong. I have no excuse for it,” Wyatt said. “I hurt so many people. I broke so much trust.”
Wyatt was eligible for work release, which would have allowed her to keep working to pay back the $57,000 she still owes. Her employer, however, wouldn’t agree to the terms, her lawyer Sonja Hardenbrook told the judge.
Wyatt has paid back about $20,000.
Superior Court Judge Linda Krese ordered Wyatt to begin making monthly payments of $500 once she is released. That’s a significant monthly payment for someone just out of prison, the judge said. On the other hand, the club was severely affected by Wyatt’s crime, Krese said.
Club officials had to limit scholarships offered to kids.
Wyatt was the club’s treasurer when she wrote 106 checks to herself between June 2007 until February 2010. Club officials discovered the money was missing when checks written from their bank account began bouncing.
Wyatt told Lynnwood detectives that she had a spending problem, according to court papers. She told police that she intended to repay the club when she first began taking the money.
Prosecutors charged the case as a major economic offense, based on the amount of money involved and Wyatt’s position of trust. That left the door open for them to recommend an exceptional sentence beyond the maximum of three months in jail under the standard range.
Wyatt pleaded guilty in November and stipulated that the crime earned her a punishment beyond the standard range.
Club officials said they have since changed their accounting practices.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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