Unger admits guilt
By: Nicole Osborn, Tri-Lakes Tribune
06/27/2006
Patricia Unger, accused of embezzling as much as $625,000 from the Forest View Acres Water District, pled guilty to class 3 felony theft during a mediation led by Judge Richard Toth Thursday, June 22.
Unger paid the water district $300,000 in restitution and will pay an additional $15,000 plus 12 percent interest in monthly payments to be made to the district during her six year supervised probation.
She will also have to write a letter of apology to the water district and will serve six months of jail time with work release.
"It is what it is," said president of the Forest View Acres Water District board of directors Barbara Reed-Polatty. "It's closure."
"I'm relieved that we're at a point of closure," she added.
One of the conditions of the settlement is that the civil case against Dennis and Patti Unger be dropped, which the district will comply with.
The district continues to operate.
"(The settlement) will allow us to get on with the business of addressing some of the other problems (the district has)," Reed-Polatty said.
With a revenue bond creating debt, water delivery issues, leaks and an engineering assessment which shows a need for improving the infrastructure, the district has to figure out how to finance all that needs to be done to continue to operate.
FVAWD has been around since 1957, so a lot of pipes need replacing, Reed-Polatty said.
Reed-Polatty said that while the money Unger has paid and will continue to pay the district will make right some of the financial issues, it will certainly not take care of all of the district's debt.
FVAWD is presently looking at which accounts to put the money in.
"The theft by Ms. Unger has left a permanent, serious impact on the community of Monument," said Deputy District Attorney Lisa Kirkman in a statement issued to the Tribune. "This agreement allows for an immediate substantial payment of restitution."
If Unger violates any conditions of her probation, she will serve an eight-year sentence with the El Paso County Department of Corrections.
"(Those at the DA's office) believe this agreement meets the interests of the community and is an appropriate result," Kirkman said.
Unger is scheduled for sentencing Sept. 7.
"Sentencing at a later date is part of the felony process," Kirkman said.
She explained a pre-sentence report will be written by a probation officer to make a recommendation to the judge.
The Tribune was unable to reach Unger for a comment.
