Bilking Mukilteo business gets former bookkeeper two years

Published 3:31 pm Wednesday, September 22, 2010

MUKILTEO — Donald and Janice Whitson watched Monday as Susan Arrington was led away from a Snohomish County courtroom in handcuffs.

Arrington, 55, was sentenced Monday to two years behind bars for systematically stealing $540,000 from the Whistons’ family business in Mukilteo. Arrington, a former bookkeeper, was also ordered to pay back the money.

“It’s called closure,” Donald Whitson said.

Monday’s court hearing brought to an end a legal process that’s taken more than a year, he said.

“I’m feeling relieved that we can move on,” Janice Whitson said.

Still, the Whitsons said they fear that Arrington will never repay everything.

Their business, VisualGraphics Inc., was devastated, they said. Since 2001, they’ve had to lay off nine employees, sell their office space and keep working past their planned retirement.

At first, the Whitsons believed their business was suffering because of the economic downturn that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. They later learned that their bookkeeper of 23 years was embezzling money.

Arrington forged more than 340 check since 2002, court records show. The former bookkeeper is suspected of using the company’s software to digitally copy the owner’s signature. She also altered checks made out to the Internal Revenue Service.

Arrington in September pleaded guilty to a single count of first-degree theft.

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Linda Krese on Monday agreed with the prosecutor’s recommendation to give Arrington double the typical sentence for theft.

Krese said Arrington violated the Whitsons’ trust and stole a substantial sum. The judge said the victims likely will “pay the price for the rest of their lives.”

Arrington wept in court as she apologized to the Whitsons.

“My real punishment in my heart will be living with the guilt and shame of hurting you both,” she said in court Monday.

Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.