Former manager of Camden inn to repay $46,000 stolen from owners

Mon, 06/06/2016 - 8:00am

    ROCKLAND — A woman who was the former manager of a Camden Lodge was sentenced to serve 21 days in jail for stealing $46,000 from the owners.

    Kelly Hill, 39, formerly of Camden, and now residing in Leland, Michigan, pleaded no contest to felony theft and was sentenced June 1 in Knox County Unified Court by Justice William Stokes to serve two years in prison for theft with all but 21 days suspended. Hill will serve three years of probation after she is released from jail.

    Stokes also ordered Hill repay the money that she stole from the owners with installment payments of $200 a month, according to the court documents.

    Hill was arrested in March 2015 by Camden Police Detective Curt Andrick after the owners of the Lodge at Camden Hills, James Burgess and Jody Payne, noticed suspicious charges and discrepancies with the books. They provided bank statements to the police that included charges made by Hill for shopping trips, medical bills, travel, and veterinary services for her two dogs. Hill was authorized to use the business’ checking account and debit card.

    They told police that they trusted Hill 100 percent to manage their business, according to the court documents.

    Business documents highlighted alleged unauthorized purchases, including at spa and hair salon visits, motels in Michigan, New Hampshire and Vermont, for airline charges and eye care, and at Michigan and Maine restaurants, as well as PayPal transfers.

    The owners also allowed Hill to live at the Lodge without paying rent and have personal use of a company car.

    Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com