SANDPOINT — A Washington state woman who embezzled from her former employer was ordered to serve up to a year in prison for grand theft on Monday.

First District Judge Barbara Buchanan far exceeded the state’s recommendation of a three-month jail term and a suspended prison sentence because Pamela Ann McGrath’s misconduct was not an aberration.

“It appears that this is a pattern and that you have a serious problem,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan retained jurisdiction over McGrath, which is also known as a rider. When jurisdiction is retained, a defendant serves up to a year in prison before being considered for release onto probation. While incarcerated, McGrath will be enrolled in programming suited to her needs.

“You need help,” Buchanan said.

McGrath, 53, was charged with grand theft, forgery and burglary for using her position as an escrow officer to write company checks to herself for at least $2,859 in late 2017 and early 2018, according to court documents. Not long after the felony charges emerged in Idaho, McGrath was accused of committing strikingly similar crimes in Snowhomish County, Wash. A probable cause affidavit in the latter case alleged that McGrath wrote checks totaling nearly $8,500 using purloined escrow funds.

McGrath ultimately pleaded guilty to grand theft in the Idaho case.

McGrath submitted a letter apologizing to the operators of Sandpoint Title and explaining that she developed a gambling addiction to cope with the death with her parents, a condition which was worsened by the side effects of prescription medication, which impaired her impulse control.

Sandpoint Title officials expect those problems to persist if McGrath continues to have access to money which does not belong to her.

“It will continue to happen if she’s not kept from this industry,” said Tom Williams

Lonnie Williams said he helped McGrath with her rent and Christmas gifts when she was hired and her deception undermines the fabric that holds communities together. McGrath’s expression of remorse were undercut by her pursuit of unemployment benefits after being fired for the thefts.

“It shows she has zero remorse for her crimes,” Lonnie Williams told the court.

Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Roger Hanlon sought restitution for the two accounted-for forged checks, in addition to a 90-day jail term and a suspended one- to three-year prison term, while Deputy Public Defender Luke Hagelberg recommended a suspended one- to two-year term and local jail with work release so she can repay Sandpoint Title.

McGrath tearfully apologized to Sandpoint Title and asked for a chance to demonstrate that she is a good person.

“I know what I did was wrong,” McGrath said.

But Buchanan opted to retain jurisdiction, partly because the misconduct was not a one-time lapse in otherwise sound judgment.

“This was not an isolated incident,” Buchanan said.

McGrath appeared startled by the turn of events and muttered, “Oh my God” as she was led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

The case against McGrath in Washington state is still pending.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.