Doneia A. Santiago turns to hug family members goodbye following her sentencing hearing this morning in Lewis County Superior Court.
Updated at 6:25 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The now-former Mossyrock city clerk-treasurer is heading to prison with a five year sentence for embezzling what the mayor says comes to more than $67,000.
Doneia A. Santiago, 53, came to Lewis County Superior Court in Chehalis today, free on a signature bond since her June arrest, and was taken into custody at the end of the hearing.
Defense attorney Don Blair didn’t ask the judge for a particular amount of time for his client, but noted she was cooperative after the mayor approached her and left her job without taking her final paycheck. She even borrowed a large sum of money from a friend in an attempt to begin repaying the loss, but prosecutors wouldn’t accept it as part of a deal for less time, he said.
“She got into a situation where she was short on funds and started using the city’s bank account to pay her mortgage,” Blair told the judge. “Clearly she regrets that.”
The defendant told the court she was very sorry.
Santiago was charged initially with first-degree theft, for what at first looked like less than $8,000 taken over a less than three-year period. By mid-July, documents were filed indicating investigators found evidence more than $37,000 was taken. A deal was struck in which she pleaded guilty to nine counts of first-degree identity theft earlier this month.
Mossyrock Mayor Tom Meade addressed the court, on behalf of the town’s 750 residents, he said, about how Santiago breached the public’s trust.
“She failed completely in her duties,” Meade said. “It’s an example of why people have lost faith in government.”
Meade spoke of stolen credit cards, late night transfers, false invoices submitted to the council and a scheme so complex even three audits by the state missed it.
“She was that clever, she was that good at it,” the mayor said.
Mayor Meade said some of her family members should be ashamed of themselves for what he claimed was participation in the wrongdoing.
More than a dozen apparent supporters sat in the benches behind Santiago, including family. Roughly the same number, including city council members, were on the other side of the courtroom with the mayor.
Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello recommended to the judge Santiago get five years, plus community custody following her release and pay various fines and fees. Restitution will be determined at a future date, he said. Masiello looked to the mayor for the preliminary number of $67,079.95.
“With the conduct in this case and the length of time it went on, we think 60 months is appropriate,” he said.
Judge Nelson Hunt agreed with the state, saying it’s his experience that almost everyone caught embezzling comes up with excuses and then apologizes.
“The jail time starts right now,” Hunt said.
Outside the courtroom, Masiello said the particular charges to which she was convicted helped the state get the amount of time it sought, and because of the sentencing guidelines, keeping the theft charges would not have resulted in a longer sentence.
Santiago started working for the central Lewis County city in August 2013 and was terminated in June.
The deputy clerk, Daydra Stewart, was confirmed by the council as acting city clerk-treasurer in July. Mayor Meade suggested they are in no hurry to make a final decision about a new clerk-treasurer.
“We’re going to let some time pass,” he said.
•••
For background, read “Former Mossy city clerk pleads guilty to putting city funds in personal account” from Wednesday September 7, 2016, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I think MV’s comments about Tom Meade are misguided, CC. Except for passing mention of the actual crime at the beginning of his/her first post, everything that’s followed has been calls for investigating the guy who saw what the state auditors didn’t and called in the authorities. It’s like blaming Erin Brockovich for reporting what PGE was doing.
If the Mayor is also responsible, how about the State.? Have you ever been through a State audit? The State didn’t find anything either and they check everything. She was able to fool the State – people who are trained to look for fraud. The Mayor is a man of integrity. He has worked tiredlesly for the City even when he wanted to turn the reigns over to someone new. Last I knew, He does not get paid for what he does — unless you count a minute stipend that doesn’t even pay for a tank of gas. The former cllerk went to extreme measures from what I see in the article to hide what she was doing. She is the one responsible for her actions and her alone. I applaud the Mayor for taking immediate action when the information starting showing it’s head. As much as I applaud the Mayor, I also am extremely confused as to why she felt she could get away with what she did. She knew the responsibility that was given to her and the consequences if she ever did anything incorrectly.
I believe the mayor should definitely be investigated more, anyone in his position would have been able to catch this early if they did their job correctly. Mayor has failed completely for this town of Mossyrock.
i believe that there are more important things here then capital letters and periods…the mayor allowed this to happen…..seems to me u might just be him or his wife…you are a joke to our community..credit cards are seen by the mayor monthly..not secretly..open your eyes
She’s sorry she got caught.
I have a hard time believing that three audits missed the thefts, for one thing there are many different types of audits, and a routine state audit may not focus on the checks and balances required by any finance department. The most important rule to institute in any accounting office is division of duties: for example, a senior member of management (board member, treasurer, president) receives and opens all incoming mail, reviews bank and credit card statements, and routinely reviews accounts payable and is familiar with all vendors. At any given time, the accountant produces backup for any given transaction if questioned by a board member or other senior official. If there is no backup, BIG RED FLAG. Even a site visit by a CPA to review accounting procedures could have stopped this theft before it went on for three years; this is something that every finance department should do annually.
gr8 gRammer …. mossyrock VoIce
You might try using some capital letters and periods correctly.
Posting sober now Mr. Peabody?
i do not for a minute believe she was sorry she wrote herself a check june 21…she just got caught.. and mayor tom meade u are a piece of work..it wasnt just the audit that missed it..u were in charge we blame u, also…have u seen your office lately its a pigsty..no wonder u missed it…glad u wanted to be a mayor when u grew up but u are messing up royally, you are to to blame just as much as her and your council, what a joke….Great job mossyrock government.
Oh okay she did not accept her last paycheck. Phew thank goodness that will really go towards paying back the 37, 000 bucks. 5 years is a good amount of time.
Wow the Hunt snapped her off some time. She will have plenty of time for lots of sit ups, running the track and reading. Maybe she can even teach inmates how to be a Clerk also. What a valuable asset to the Department of Corrections. Orange is the new Black Honey. Enjoy the stay, right about now you’re probably getting processed into your new cloths and meeting your new Cell Mate. Boy would this make a great reality TV Show. Lewis County Officials in the Big House. Thanks Neson Hunt for eliminating this Tax Feeder of the Citizens pay roll. Great Job!