POCATELLO, Idaho — A southeastern Idaho man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling $547,000 from his business partner and spending much of it on guns, ammunition and storable foods to be ready for a possible apocalypse.
The Idaho State Journal reportsthat Darwin Knight was sentenced Monday in 6th District court and must serve at least two years before becoming eligible for parole. He was also ordered to repay the money.
Knight pleaded guilty in November to three counts of embezzlement from Advanced Industrial Supply after writing checks to himself during a seven-year period as the company’s financial controller.
“You basically masterminded the computer system and the accounting system to not only hide from your employer but also from your wife,” Judge Robert Naftz told Knight. “There is no question in my mind that each time you wrote a check you knew what you were doing, stealing from your business partner.”
Knight’s defense attorney, Donald Harris, argued against a harsh sentence by noting that Knight’s actions were partly to blame on mental health issues, including depression.
“He is a troubled man with issues,” Harris said. “But those issues are best resolved in the community. He is not a risk to the community.”
A deal with prosecutors called for Knight to be sentenced to 10 years probation with an underlying sentence of three years in prison and three years indeterminate.
But Naftz opted for a different sentence.
“Although the state downplays it, I think society needs to be protected from people like you who would carry on a long-term criminal enterprise,” Naftz told Knight. “I think there needs to be some punishment.”
Bill Winn, president and owner of Advanced Industrial Supply, said he believed Knight’s stealing from the business was for more than just to be prepared for a possible apocalypse. Winn, who is now in possession of the apocalypse supplies purchased by Knight, said less than 25 percent of the stolen money went for survival items.
“Clearly, there was more important uses for the money, since the apocalypse items are just a small portion of the money stolen,” Winn said.
Knight’s job at Advanced Industrial Supply paid him more than $200,000 annually. He was also sold shares in the company at half their face value that he was allowed to purchase over time.
At the sentencing, Knight said he was embarrassed about his fear of an impending apocalypse and that was his reason for keeping it secret.
Knight in court apologized for what he had done and said he intended “to repay every penny I can possibly repay.”
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