Local bookkeeper sentenced to three years probation for theft
Alisha Cannon ordered to pay restitution of $28,998
Alisha Cannon was found guilty of one count of felony grant theft by embezzlement.
The North County woman, Alisha Amber Cannon, found guilty of felony grand theft in September was given three years probation at her sentencing hearing on Wednesday. The conditions of her probation is to obey all laws and pay restitution of $28,998.05.
Cannon, 31, was originally charged with three counts of felony grand theft by embezzlement and was found guilty of one count of felony grand theft at her hearing on Sept. 10. 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 in September. “We treated her like family around here…I never suspected anything.”
Simons did not discover what had happened until Cannon quit Simons Construction, Inc. after about three years of employment as the company’s office manager/bookkeeper. She went on to start her own business, Cannon Business Services. Simons and his wife found that 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 a direct deposit for other employees and slipped in an extra deposit for herself. He said she took more than $30,000 in money and items while she was employed by his company.
Cannon was originally 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. I’m relatively satisfied with the judgment against her.” Simons said he just doesn’t want anyone else to have to go through was he and his family did.
She should have had to serve jail time and been prevented from ever working with other peoples finances for ever.
I was there for her sentencing. She showed zero emotion and is not remorseful for what she did. She doesn't have to do any jail time but she does have to do 100 hours of community service. At least the Public knows what she did and what type of person she is.
I agree with both of you Brandon and Robert, when I saw her ad for her own bookkeeping service I thought I was going to choke. Liars and thieves are the lowest of low…
That seems like a pretty light sentence for stealing that much, especially if she showed no remorse. The Simons are very good people and I am certain they treated her MORE than fair and for her to continually take from them was so wrong and deserves a stiffer penalty in my opinion.
As far as I understand, she is required to show any potential client a very succinct letter/ statement that states she was found guilty of embezzlement. How that is to be reinforced is another question. The Simons are pillars in our community, and they treated this thief like family. I also believe the sentence was too lenient.
So she does no jail time and has to pay back less than she stole? What the hell?
What a low life loser!! I sure hope no one else gets ripped off by her new "business"??!!! Spread the word around and hopefully no one will be a victim!!!
I owned a business and had an employee steal less money than this, and she got 3 months in jail, 3 years probation and had to pay restitution. That thief almost put me out of business in my first year. 17 people would have lost their jobs. This sentence is TOO LIGHT! My biggest problem owning my own business was employee theft.
It's like $1,000 a month , it's a rent money , she should get a jail time
Crime and non-punishment is the order of the day. Prison realignment, Prop 36 and Prop 47 are just the start. Soon enough, only murderers and sex offenders will be sent to prison as other crime snowballs. I retire next year and I will be leaving the state ASAP. The Golden State it is NOT.
She should have had to serve jail time and been prevented from ever working with other peoples finances for ever.
I was there for her sentencing. She showed zero emotion and is not remorseful for what she did. She doesn't have to do any jail time but she does have to do 100 hours of community service. At least the Public knows what she did and what type of person she is.
I agree with both of you Brandon and Robert, when I saw her ad for her own bookkeeping service I thought I was going to choke. Liars and thieves are the lowest of low…
That seems like a pretty light sentence for stealing that much, especially if she showed no remorse. The Simons are very good people and I am certain they treated her MORE than fair and for her to continually take from them was so wrong and deserves a stiffer penalty in my opinion.
As far as I understand, she is required to show any potential client a very succinct letter/ statement that states she was found guilty of embezzlement. How that is to be reinforced is another question. The Simons are pillars in our community, and they treated this thief like family. I also believe the sentence was too lenient.
So she does no jail time and has to pay back less than she stole? What the hell?
What a low life loser!! I sure hope no one else gets ripped off by her new "business"??!!! Spread the word around and hopefully no one will be a victim!!!
I owned a business and had an employee steal less money than this, and she got 3 months in jail, 3 years probation and had to pay restitution. That thief almost put me out of business in my first year. 17 people would have lost their jobs. This sentence is TOO LIGHT! My biggest problem owning my own business was employee theft.
It's like $1,000 a month , it's a rent money , she should get a jail time
Crime and non-punishment is the order of the day. Prison realignment, Prop 36 and Prop 47 are just the start. Soon enough, only murderers and sex offenders will be sent to prison as other crime snowballs. I retire next year and I will be leaving the state ASAP. The Golden State it is NOT.