Two Sentenced for Embezzling Over $180,000 From Business

Mugshots of married couple

Deborah Sears and Jason Sears

Press release from the Mendocino District Attorney’s Office:

Convicted embezzler, Deborah Ann Sears, age 46, of Redwood Valley, was remanded into custody in open court this morning to begin serving a just-imposed state prison sentence of 56 months. Her husband, Jason Eagles Sears, age 46, also of Redwood Valley, having been previously convicted of being an accessory to his wife’s larceny, was placed on supervised felony probation for 60 months. As one term of his probation, defendant Jason must serve 180 days in the county jail. The two defendants were ordered — jointly and severally — to pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $180,179.76. Moving forward, any unpaid balance on the ordered restitution will accrue interest at the legal rate of ten percent.

Following a lengthy Investigation by law enforcement, it was determined that the aforementioned husband and wife team had been involved in embezzling, hiding, and spending over $180,000 stolen from Deep Valley Security during calendar years 2014, 2015, and 2016. Over $37,000 was stolen in 2014, over $79,000 was stolen in 2015, and over $63,000 was stolen in 2016. Defendant Deborah was able to access and steal these sums due to her position of trust as the office manager of the business — my “most trusted employee,” as she was characterized by the owner — during her three-year stint at DVS. Defendant Deborah in part justified her thievery by telling the interviewing probation officer that “she was never recognized or rewarded for her hard work,” and that she was “resentful of others who were not working as hard, but were still being paid the same.”

It was also disclosed to probation during the interviews that during the same time period while money was being illegally siphoned away from DVS, the two defendants were also involved in drug dealing. The defendants admitted growing and selling black market marijuana, and then even hiding their marijuana profits in DVS’s business safe in Ukiah. This was to protect their illegal underground profits from seizure in the event of a law enforcement raid on the defendants’ Redwood Valley home and marijuana business.

The prosecutor who has handled the prosecution of these defendants from the start through today’s sentencing hearing is District Attorney David Eyster. The law enforcement agency responsible for the investigation of the crimes committed was the Ukiah Police Department, with kudos extended to Detective Andy Phillips for an exceptionally thorough and well-done investigation. The judge who imposed sentence on both defendants this morning was Mendocino County Superior Court Presiding Judge John Behnke.>

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11 Comments
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Just Saying
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Just Saying
6 years ago

Greedy and stupid. Good luck in prison.

curlybill
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curlybill
6 years ago

That is a good press release from Mendocino District Attorney’s Office.
See Humboldt, this is how it is done.

I especially liked how they acknowledged prosecutor District Attorney David Eyster, Ukiah Police Department, Detective Andy Phillips and Mendocino County Superior Court Presiding Judge John Behnke.

This shows some class.

Hecuba
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Hecuba
6 years ago
Reply to  curlybill

Here’s a Humboldt example that might make you feel better (unfortunately just about press releases, not horrible crimes):

https://kymkemp.com/2017/03/17/fortuna-man-pleads-guilty-sexually-abusing-daughter/

Guest
Guest
Guest
6 years ago

Dishonest in small things, dishonest in large things.

Seamus
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Seamus
6 years ago

Embezzlers, like child molesters, are never cured they always repeat offend.

nocodeofconduct
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nocodeofconduct
6 years ago

See criminals! The real money is in white collar crime. Would you do 6monthes in jail for 180,000 bucks?.. Tempting.

Greg Tunison
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Greg Tunison
6 years ago

Did you moss the part about restitution? That means paying $ back to the victim.

Freedom Club
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Freedom Club
6 years ago

It’s 56 months not 6. Pretty big difference.

G-MAS
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G-MAS
6 years ago

And they trusted you!!

superd
Guest
superd
6 years ago

nasty individuals

Deborah Sherman
Guest
Deborah Sherman
5 years ago

Do you all know them? Or just Deborah? “Embezzlers like child molesters can’t be reformed “…seriously? This is not comparable to pedophiles.
I hope that all parties affected heal & that we can lift each up, when she returns. I knew her as a teenager & young adult. She was kind, caring & just a bright light. So, who knows what led to a most probable desperate act? A portion of the clip was shown above. .a portion. Everywhere, I’m reading comments of her being ostracized, when she comes home. I hope we can do better.