Car club thief has prior felony

A woman who admitted stealing nearly $10,000 from the Valley Cruisers Car Club was convicted in 2005 of a similar offense.

Pamela Mikulski, 34, of Carson City, faces up to 10 years in Nevada State Prison and a $10,000 fine at her sentencing April 21 before District Judge Michael Gibbons.

She admitted taking $9,762.76 while she served as club treasurer.

Mikulski pleaded guilty Monday to theft. In 2005, she pleaded guilty to grand theft and was given a 3-year suspended sentence. She completed probation and received an honorable discharge.

At the time of her arrest in September, Mikulski was the manager of three Port of Subs sandwich shops.

"The court will obviously take into consideration your prior offense of a similar nature. It can be used against you to enhance the penalty. Possibly, you can go into state prison," Gibbons said.

Club president Mike Rowe said the Cruisers were not aware of Mikulski's past.

"It's kind of a hobby club," he said. "Anybody who wants to be a member can."

Rowe said Mikulski volunteered to be treasurer in 2006 and the group was happy to have a candidate with her qualifications.

"With volunteer organizations, the annual election of officers is almost always by default. When you ask for nominations, there's almost always dead silence. She volunteered. Nobody asks questions like, 'Are you an ex-felon?'" Rowe said.

Rowe said policies have changed.

"We learned our lesson," he said. "As a result, we've implemented a pretty strict double-check and cross-check system. Obviously, you can't just rely on somebody to do what they said. None of us had any idea of what her background was."

Mikulski told Gibbons she believed the total was $7,000. Rowe and other club members believe it could be close to $15,000.

"It's really hard to pin down," Rowe said. "With car guys, it's pretty much all cash and small bills."

Rowe said the club settled on the $9,762.76 figure because more would be difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mikulski's attorney, Bruce Lindsay, said she accepted the restitution figure.

"We're satisfied that we're making the very best out of a very bad situation," he said.

Mikulski said she had a gambling problem and lost all the money, but had been attending 12-step programs since October.

She said she had designated her $2,500 bail as part of the restitution.

"What I did was 100 percent wrong," she said Monday. "I am sorry for how much my actions deprived the car club and the community. I am doing everything I can to make it up."

Rowe said he didn't doubt she gambled the club's money, but she also used it for personal expenses like having a cat spayed and paying utility and gas bills.

He also said she printed her own Wells Fargo slips to make it look like she was depositing money.

Rowe said as a result of the theft, the club has had to cut back on community donations.

"A major part of the car club's purpose is to provide a funding source for local charities," he said. "Our by-laws state we donate a minimum of $8,000 to charities based or located in Douglas County. We use the Main Street Event as a source of the funds we give back to the community."

Organizations in the past which have benefited from the Valley Cruisers include the Carson Valley Food Closet, Austin's House, Douglas County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, Kids' Fishing Derby, "all that wonderful stuff that makes a small town what it is and why we live here," Rowe said.

He said the organization needs $8,000 in reserve to put on the Main Street Event, and the club is about $400 short.

Members have organized a rummage sale April 26 to help make up the difference.

"We've had to defer donations to all of the charities since it came to light last year. We simply do not have the funds," Rowe said.

YOU CAN HELP

The Valley Cruisers Car Club is holding a rummage sale 8 a.m.-2 p.m. April 26 at WT Cool Cars, 2480 Precision Way, Unit K, Minden.

The public is invited to donate items and rent booth space for $20 at the Embezzlement Reimbursement Car Parts and Rummage Sale.

Proceeds will be used to replenish the $10,000 in funds stolen by the club's former treasurer.

The Valley Cruisers Car Club supports the Carson Valley Food Closet, the Family Support Council, Douglas Senior Center, Douglas County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, Douglas High School scholarships and Project Santa Claus.

For information, or to make donations, call 267-1381 or 267-6533.