Local bookkeeper guilty of felony grand theft
Alisha Cannon accused of stealing $30,000 from Simons Construction
Alisha Cannon was found guilty of one count of felony grant theft by embezzlement.
North County resident Alisha Amber Cannon, 31, originally charged with three counts of felony grand theft by embezzlement over $950, was found guilty of one count of felony grand theft at her hearing on Sept. 10. Her sentencing is set for Nov. 5 at 8:30 a.m. Cannon was charged by the San Luis Obispo County’s District Attorney earlier this year after her former employer, Benny Simons, president of Simons Construction, Inc., discovered that she had been buying items from Staples on the company account.
“We weren’t looking for it,” Simons said. “We treated her like family around here…I never suspected anything.”
Cannon quit Simons Construction, Inc. after about three years of employment as the company’s office manager/bookkeeper and now runs her own business, Cannon Business Services. What Simons and his wife found after they discovered the theft, was more than they ever expected: Cannon stole more than $20,000 worth of products over two and a half years and, in her last 13 months of employment, started depositing money into her account. When she did direct deposit for other employees, Simons said, Cannon would slip in an extra deposit for herself. He said that she took more than $30,000 in money and items when she was employed by his company.
After the Simonses discovered the embezzlement, Cannon was charged with three counts of felony grand theft by embezzlement:
- Count 1: Felony grand theft by embezzlement was committed between March 13 and Dec. 14, 2011, when she unlawfully took money and personal property from Simons Construction, Inc. that exceeded a value of $950.
- Count 2: Felony grand theft by embezzlement was committed between Jan. 13 and Dec. 28, 2012, when she unlawfully took money and personal property from Simons Construction, Inc. that exceeded a value of $950.
- Count 3: Felony grand theft by embezzlement was committed between Jan. 23 and Nov. 5. 2013, when she unlawfully took money and personal property from Simons Construction, Inc. that exceeded a value of $950.
Though she originally pleaded “not guilty,” at her hearing on Sept. 10, she plead guilty to the first count and the other two were dismissed due to the plea bargain.
“I’m glad it’s kind of behind me,” Simons said. “I don’t understand why they let her plead down to one felony count from three felony counts [though]. I’m relatively satisfied with the judgment against her.”
Simons said that the felony charge could have been bargained down to a misdemeanor even though each count exceeded $950 by quite a bit.
“She’s paying for [her actions] today,” Simons said.
[Wow, what a horrible person.] How delusional do you have to be to think you can get away with stealing that much money?
She was lucky to have had a job with this excellent company and generous employer. I hope the judge throws the book at her and she has to pay restitution.
Sadly, it happens a lot.
Stealing from one of the most amazing and giving families in Templeton…..hard to fathom……
So so sad, I hope she gets what she deserves and more
Stealing is a progressive and addicting behavior, with no jail time or counseling she will pick up right where she left off. I'm glad the community is now aware though, hopefully it makes it harder for her to chose her next victim.
Wow! Sorry to hear about that Benny. I bet you helped her out with other things in the past three years she worked for you and look how she shows her thanks, she is the worst kind of thief. Bottom feeders like her rarely pay their restitution either. What a Skank! You take care Benny your good people never forget that!
Wow, so sorry this happened to you. You and your family have such a great reputation in helping others. Just sickened over this.
They are an amazing family, this kills me.
Everyone is so blood thirsty and willing to crucify people base on online articles. Lord knows it must be 100% true and contain ALL the facts because it was on facebook! I can guarantee you beyond a shadow of a doubt there is more information here. I didn't read anything about a trial? Didn't see any request for input from the "guilty"? The real bottom feeders are the people who live off others' misery and misfortune. I hope this poor person has a strong group of friends and family to help them through this and to shield them from all the negativity you seem to feel needs to be contributed to an already sad situation. Keep throwing your stones, it doesn't make you look any more righteous.
Everyone is so blood thirsty and willing to crucify people base on online articles. Lord knows it must be 100% true and contain ALL the facts because it was on facebook! I can guarantee you beyond a shadow of a doubt there is more information here. I didn't read anything about a trial? Didn't see any request for input from the "guilty"? The real bottom feeders are the people who live off others misery and misfortune. I hope this poor person has a strong group of friends and family to help them through this and to shield them from all the negativity you seem to feel needs to be contributed to an already sad situation. Keep throwing your stones, it doesn't make you look any more righteous.
[Wow, what a horrible person.] How delusional do you have to be to think you can get away with stealing that much money?
She was lucky to have had a job with this excellent company and generous employer. I hope the judge throws the book at her and she has to pay restitution.
Sadly, it happens a lot.
Stealing from one of the most amazing and giving families in Templeton…..hard to fathom……
So so sad, I hope she gets what she deserves and more
Stealing is a progressive and addicting behavior, with no jail time or counseling she will pick up right where she left off. I'm glad the community is now aware though, hopefully it makes it harder for her to chose her next victim.
Wow! Sorry to hear about that Benny. I bet you helped her out with other things in the past three years she worked for you and look how she shows her thanks, she is the worst kind of thief. Bottom feeders like her rarely pay their restitution either. What a Skank! You take care Benny your good people never forget that!
Wow, so sorry this happened to you. You and your family have such a great reputation in helping others. Just sickened over this.
They are an amazing family, this kills me.
Everyone is so blood thirsty and willing to crucify people base on online articles. Lord knows it must be 100% true and contain ALL the facts because it was on facebook! I can guarantee you beyond a shadow of a doubt there is more information here. I didn't read anything about a trial? Didn't see any request for input from the "guilty"? The real bottom feeders are the people who live off others' misery and misfortune. I hope this poor person has a strong group of friends and family to help them through this and to shield them from all the negativity you seem to feel needs to be contributed to an already sad situation. Keep throwing your stones, it doesn't make you look any more righteous.
Everyone is so blood thirsty and willing to crucify people base on online articles. Lord knows it must be 100% true and contain ALL the facts because it was on facebook! I can guarantee you beyond a shadow of a doubt there is more information here. I didn't read anything about a trial? Didn't see any request for input from the "guilty"? The real bottom feeders are the people who live off others misery and misfortune. I hope this poor person has a strong group of friends and family to help them through this and to shield them from all the negativity you seem to feel needs to be contributed to an already sad situation. Keep throwing your stones, it doesn't make you look any more righteous.