By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Chehalis man who wrote himself checks out of a fund set up for the W.F. West High School senior class being managed by his wife is sitting in the Lewis County Jail now.
Robert N. Downs Jr., 43, remained free on his personal recognizance after being charged this past spring with first-degree theft and 14 counts of forgery. When police announced their conclusion the account had been tampered with to the tune of about $8,000, they indicated the money had already been paid back.
Downs, an employee at Green Hill School, the state juvenile corrections facility for boys in Chehalis, was sentenced yesterday to three months in jail. He pleaded guilty as charged in July in Lewis County Superior Court.
His lawyer asked the time be served at home with electronic monitoring. Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer asked he be sent to prison for one year and a day. Judge Richard Brosey gave him 90 days.
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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
When you type in Green Hill in the search lots of issues come up with that school. What programs do they have there. One program I know they dont have is a Horticulture program viewing the green house from the freeway tells you that. Why is it not open? Another failed justice system institution.
A “mistake” would have been a calculating error. Taking money repeatedly is not a “mistake”…it was taken intentionally, several times.
He didn’t pay it back, his family did.
The only decent thing he did was admit that he took it.
“Would someone not honest own up to this? Would someone not honest pay back the money.”
Would someone not honest have taken money from kids in the first place? Actually, yes.
Don’t you think admitting the wrong, facing the public humiliation, making things right is example enough. People make mistakes. Get over yourself. Think of his safety. Should he have gone to state prison vs. county jail, he would be at great risk of harm. All those kids from green hill that he was in charge of…make a correctional officer an inmate? You’re not asking for an example you’re wishing physical harm on someone. Big shame on you. Enough is enough. Rob is a true gentleman. I wish you all could know him. Kind, humble and honest…yes I just said that. It’s true. Would someone not honest own up to this? Would someone not honest pay back the money. He’s already lost his career, and so much more. As a society, community, generally being a decent human, we should support and uplift someone like this who can make a mistake ans admit it. good for you Rob. keep you’re chin up. There are lots of us pulling for you.
Lisarae – perfect much? Never do wrong? Wow. Amazed, I am. If you want to make “an example” of someone who paid back the theft, never denied it and cooperated with every phase of the investigation, then you must believe that “an example” should be made for all bad behavior. Hie the to the prison, woman – did you speed? Have you eaten grapes in the produce department? Ever find an incorrect receipt and forgot to rectify the error? AN EXAMPLE MUST BE MADE!!!
Let’s just suppose you are perfect. Yay. you. But let us look closely at your siblings… your children… your spouse. YES!!! Let’s look to see if they need to “BE MADE AN EXAMPLE”!!!! Because one thing I have learned in my life is those most willing to scream for punishment often have a bunch of ugly stuff hiding in their own closets.
The man is serving his time. Enough already.
Shame on Judge Brosey! These are the pukes who need to be used as an example of how NOT to behave. A slap on the wrist is unacceptable for violating the trust of these kids. Lewis County fails again~
I wish there was more information in this story.