By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Chehalis man accused of helping himself to money from a fund set up for the W.F. West High School senior class pleaded guilty today, as charged.
Robert N. Downs Jr., 43, was in Lewis County Superior Court after a plea deal was worked out.
Prosecutors said Downs signed his wife’s name to checks written out to himself adding up to about $8,000. When Chehalis police announced their findings in March, they indicated that Downs’ wife had replaced the missing money.
The account was run in part by Downs’ wife. The fund comes from a tradition of parents collectively starting fundraising during their children’s freshman year to pay for graduation-related activities.
Downs, an employee at Green Hill School, pleaded guilty to first-degree theft and 14 counts of forgery.
His sentencing is set for September.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said he will be recommending a year and a day in prison, although he expects Downs’ attorney to request he be sentenced as a first-time offender, which would mean much less time.
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For background, read “Chehalis parent pleads not guilty to stealing from high school senior fund” from Thursday May 23, 2013, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter