Women enter guilty pleas to embezzlement

A 46-year-old former bookkeeper pleaded guilty Monday to embezzlement, admitting she took money from Bob's Performance Center in Gardnerville.

But Peggy Henderson disputed the amount, claiming she was responsible for $15,000, not the $80,000 the state claims was taken from April 2009 until the money was discovered missing and Henderson was arrested in January.

She faces up to 10 years in Nevada State Prison, a $10,000 fine and restitution at her sentencing April 26.

District Judge Michael Gibbons ordered a restitution hearing prior to sentencing.

Henderson said she took the money because she was under financial stress. She said the money was gone and she had spent it on "general expenses."

In exchange for her plea, the state dismissed 10 other charges.

The investigation is ongoing.

In an unrelated case, Sarah McKinnis pleaded guilty to embezzlement Monday, charged with taking $10,142.21 from the Village Motel where she was former manager.

McKinnis, 34, is to be sentenced April 19.

She faces five years in prison and a $10,000 fine plus restitution.

In exchange for her guilty plea to the embezzlement plus stealing a television, the state dismissed several charges.

In addition, McKinnis agreed to testify truthfully as a witness against any codefendants.

She admitted writing checks between Aug. 28 and Nov. 10, 2009.

"The checks were written to someone else. She was entrusted with the funds and not authorized to write checks to other people," said lawyer Tod Young.

"There were so many," McKinnis said. "They went for supplies, groceries, some were used to pay bills. Money was taken for my own use. There is nothing left."

McKinnis said she was unemployed with no ability to pay it back.

"I look forward to getting the ball rolling and getting a job and paying it back," she said.