Former scrapbook employee sentenced for embezzlement
By: JOHN HALL - Staff Writer | ∞
FRENCH VALLEY ---- A former employee at a Temecula scrapbook business was sentenced Friday for embezzling from the store.
Jennifer Joy Shabro, 33, of Temecula pleaded guilty Aug. 28 to the embezzlement. She was sentenced by Judge James Warren to 180 days, to be served on consecutive weekends, and five years of formal probation.
How much Shabro embezzled differs dramatically between what she as admitted to and how much the store owner has told police was taken. There will be a hearing next month to decide the amount Shabro will be ordered to pay back.
Richelle Summers, owner of Scrapbook Corner on Ynez Road, told Warren at Friday's hearing that Shabro "is not saying she didn't steal, just that she didn't steal that much."
Between Summers' estimate and the investigation done by Temecula police, the loss tops $100,000 of inventory and cash, according to a Riverside County probation officer's report.
In that report, Shabro estimates the value of what she took to be $5,000 and believes she took about 1,000 items.
However, the probation officer wrote that he was told by authorities that it took more than five hours to search Shabro's home during which more than 10,000 items of property were recovered. Summers was able to identify 95 percent of that property as belonging to her store, the report states.
The probation officer wrote that he found it "quite disturbing" that, while Shabro expressed remorse, she is admitting only a fraction of what authorities suspect was taken, and that her restitution efforts are lacking.
Summers told the judge at Friday's hearing that she had to refinance her family's home "to stay afloat" after the embezzlement.
"We may never recover financially," she added. "Jennifer was smiling and laughing with us ... while she was stealing behind our backs."
She hired a private investigator once she started to suspect internal theft at her store. Included in his investigation was videotaping of the store, during which Shabro was seen embezzling in different ways.
Summers said there were times Shabro could be seen on tape doing "a little happy dance" when she would pocket cash.
Joshua Summers, son of the store's owner, told the judge that Shabro was also seen using her own children as accomplices to take property from the business.
When interviewed by the probation officer, Shabro said she has been attending a 12-step program at a Temecula church.
"There is so much shame and so much guilt that comes from this ... they treated me like family," Shabro told the probation officer when asked about the victims.
Before rendering his sentence, the judge called Shabro's acts "a pretty egregious example of theft, particularly from a small business.
"She endangered that family business," Warren said.
Contact staff writer John Hall at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628, or jhall@californian.com.
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Renae wrote on Sep 23, 2006 4:58 AM:UNREAL! 180 days of WEEKENDS? That is Nothing for what this woman has done to the owners of the store and their customers. No doubt in my mind she's only sorry she got caught. I'm still in total disbelief over her LACK of a sentence! Our justice system needs to be overhauled when it comes to length of sentences for certain crimes. Yes I'm sure there are those out there that don't agree with me but this is only my opinion.
Shari wrote on Sep 25, 2006 11:23 AM:My company uses Handwriting Analysis to screen job candidates. This is a familiar story. Often employees want to keep their negative traits hidden. You take a chance unless you use a technique that can't be manipulated or skewed. A popular indian casino lost thousands this way.
Thief wrote on Sep 25, 2006 10:34 PM:What a total low-life, worthless human being. The worse part is using her kids to rip off her employer. What kind of role model is she?
Sherry wrote on Oct 2, 2006 11:46 AM:She needs to stand in a busy shopping center Holding a sign I stoled from my employer and had my Kids help
ann wrote on May 3, 2008 7:10 AM:I am applalled by the 180 days of weekends. What kind of punishment is that?! This woman needs to be in jail LONG. NOt weekends. She will learn nothing frm that kind of punishement ...
TYJ wrote on May 4, 2008 12:30 PM:Wow! That takes some nerve!
oh brother wrote on May 5, 2008 9:26 PM:Some people just don't have a conscience. How sad.
Cathy wrote on May 5, 2008 10:29 PM:They are tons of scrapbook items I would love to have but can live without if I must steal them. 100,000 and oly weekends are you joking. What about 5 years jail time then repay the $ and 180 days picking up trash with a shirts that says Im a bum, I steal.
Rosa wrote on May 5, 2008 11:47 PM:That is truly sicking. The real crime was the 180 day sentence to be served on weekends. Makes one wonder about the justice system. What justice did the store owner get pray tell.
Just Wondering wrote on May 7, 2008 6:11 AM:"Handwriting Analysis", is this truly a credible way of screening people?
Umpa Lumpa wrote on May 7, 2008 11:10 AM:I'm very familiar with the justice/prison system. The jails ARE overcrowded and that is the reason for weekends.
I have an idea. Please write to your representative in Sacramento and demand that they raise your taxes to build more jails.
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