Treasurer gets
probation for stealing

A former treasurer of the Obedience Training Club of Hawaii has been sentenced to five years' probation for stealing more than $100,000 from the volunteer organization over nine years.

Mary Kay Elias, 51, pleaded guilty as charged in July to first-degree theft, second-degree forgery and money laundering.

She apologized at sentencing Wednesday for her conduct, saying her life has changed and that she felt terrible about what she did, according to her attorney, Mark Kawata.

Circuit Judge Michael Wilson decided that jail was not warranted because Elias appeared to be sufficiently remorseful, and he found she was not likely to commit another offense. But he denied Elias' request to defer her no-contest plea, which would have enabled her to keep her record clean.

Kawata had argued that the last offense she was charged with occurred in 2001 and that Elias, who has no prior record, has made substantial progress toward rehabilitation.

"She's real active in New Hope Church and has done real well with work and continues to hold a position of responsibility including dealing with money," he said.

Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee opposed the deferral.

Elias prepared false audits and accounting reports showing there was money in the club's account when in fact there was not, he said. She also had checks pre-signed, representing that she was paying the organization's bills, but instead wrote checks out to herself for personal use without the board's authorization, Lee said.

Board members could not be reached for comment. But Lee said they were more upset over the theft because the club participates in community service and the money Elias stole was not only the club's money, but money that would have gone to benefit the Hawaiian Humane Society and Palolo School.

Elias did not contest a civil lawsuit and has been making restitution payments twice a month, Kawata said.

While Elias has not said why she took the money, Kawata said he believes it was the result of bad judgment on her part. "She hasn't gotten rich on this."

Although Elias was only charged with the theft of $47,000 from January 1996 to March 2001, prosecutors alleged her conduct had gone on longer and involved more money.