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The money that Jenny Thorsell stole included $8,196 she spent at the Red Wind and Tulalip casinos using a chamber credit card issued in her name, court papers state.
As part of a plea agreement, Thorsell, 43, pleaded guilty to first-degree theft under an Alford plea. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but concedes he or she could have been convicted if the case had gone to trial.
Thorsell must pay the chamber $17,188.56 in restitution. In return for Thorsell’s plea, prosecutors agreed to recommend the 45-day electronic home monitoring sentence.
Thorsell’s attorney, John Sinclair, described Thorsell’s electronic home monitoring as the same as house arrest. Thorsell can only leave her home for reasons related to caring for her two young children, Sinclair said.
Thorsell also must seek counseling for her gambling addiction, according to the terms of her plea agreement. Thorsell had no criminal record until Wednesday’s conviction.
Thorsell served as the chamber’s executive director for nearly eight years until she resigned in May 2010. Current chamber board President Jeff Powell reported Thorsell’s thefts to Lacey police in September 2010, after the chamber’s board formed a finance committee that found irregularities involving Thorsell’s handling of funds, court papers state.
When Thorsell was the chamber’s executive director, she was responsible for managing “all fiscal and administrative functions associated with the Chamber of Commerce,” court papers state.
The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Thorsell with first-degree theft in March.
Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5465
jpawloski@theolympian.com
