EMBEZZLEMENT/FRAUDULENT SCHEMES ($69,000) and THEFT REDUCED to FORGERY with ZERO DAYS in JAIL –State v. Ms. M (DMC No. 4590) (Maricopa County Superior Court CR2004-040044): Ms. M became employed with a paint and supply company as their book keeper with promises of a high compensation package. When this compensation did not occur, she began writing checks to herself and would fake the company’s check ledger to reflect that the checks were written to valid vendors. She took a total of $69,000 over the 8 months she was employed at the company. During the course of the case, we presented significant mitigation on Ms. M’s behalf. The State agreed to reduce all charges to a simple Forgery with no days in jail, with the promise that Ms. M would pay back the $69,000 while on Probation. She initially was facing a hefty amount of time in prison.