In early May of 2012, the Mammoth Lakes Police Department started an investigation when a local victim reported that a large sum of money was missing from personal and corporate accounts which were managed by their bookkeeper, Susan Hicks. Shortly after that, police arrested Hicks. Officers said follow-up investigation revealed that the suspect had at least sixteen additional clients in Mammoth Lakes and surrounding areas. Ms. Hicks was booked at the Mono County Jail on allegations of forgery, embezzlement and grand theft. Below is today’s press release from Mono County District Attorney Tim Kendall on the disposition of Ms. Hicks’ case.
Susan Hicks
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
October 31, 2013
Long-time Mammoth Lakes resident, Susan Lyn Hicks, now a resident of Crowley, was charged in June 2013, with 290 felony counts of Forgery and 1 count of First Degree Burglary for crimes she committed during January 1, 2006 through May of 2012.
Mono County District Attorney Investigators conducted a lengthy financial investigation involving Mrs. Hicks, who was a professional book-keeper and was fraudulently stealing from clients by forging client checks for her own personal benefit. The investigation revealed Mrs. Hick stealing from multiple victims in amounts exceeding $500,000.00.
On June 24, 2013, Mrs. Hicks plead guilty to 287 felony counts of forgery. 3 counts of forgery were dismissed by the District Attorney and the single count of First Degree Burglary was bifurcated from the plea and will be set for jury trial sometime in 2014. Under the new sentencing guidelines for realignment, none of the 287 felony forgery counts qualify for custody in the state prison system.
As a result of her plea, Mrs. Hick was sentenced on October, 28, 2013, by Judge Magit on the 287 felony counts. Judge Magit sentenced Mrs. Hicks to 14 years and 4 months to be split-up under the new sentencing guidelines. Mrs. Hicks will serve 8 years in our local jail, serving as the state prison, and 6 years, 4 months to be served on Mandatory Supervision. Mandatory Supervision will be under the Mono County Probation department, who now also serves the local role equivalent to parole at the state level for state prison sentences.
Mrs. Hicks could be transfer to the state system to serve her custody time, and any additional time, if she is convicted of the 1 remaining count of First Degree Burglary.
Mrs. Hick was remanded into custody and is currently in the Mono County Jail.
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She can count her lucky stars that she gets to do her time locally. Her ever supporting family won’t have to go far to visit, and they will even be able to see mom whenever they drive through Bridgeport, for the next 8 years…raking leaves in the summer and shoveling snow in the winter.
If I ever HAD to go to jail, I would want it to be Mono County…just like Sean Penn did back in 198?
So let me get this straight, Walker who systematically molested a 13 year old child gets less years that the embezzler? Well we know where our values are don’t we?
I knew Susan and worked with her and yes she is a good person and was a loyal and dedicated employee and bookkeeper for a very long time in Mammoth. She helped and supported many small businesses over a very long period of time. She also volunteered and supported the community in many ways. She was and is a good person who got caught up in something she could not control. She will pay for this mistake, as will her husband and her girls. She will carry this with her forever. She is not a hard hearted, unfeeling, thief. What does it matter how much or how many clients? She is paying the price for her mistakes. I for one hope she and her family find a way to come out of this healthy, happy and whole.
And yes Benett she has 16 clients but that doesn’t not mean she took from all of them. She took from 3 people just like my father said.
We are not in denial. And we have seen the evidence and were at every court date I think we know exactly what was going on and how much she really took and just because this happened doesn’t mean that we are just going to give up on my mom. We are a strong family and we all love each other very much. None of you actually know what really went on in that court room for the passed year and what this family has gone through. Family sticks together through tough times and none of you have the right to say we are dumb for loving my mom no matter what happened. She is still my mom.
Hey Jamie,
I know your family, you were on my Schwan’s route 1.5 yrs ago. I got to know you mom very well.Shes a very nice person.[great customer]
My father went away for ‘white collar’ crimes. He was a realtor/developer. He was convicted of different forms of loan fraud[forgery on Loan docs ect] He went on the run for 1 year and actually started using my name to secure car loans and credit loans[we have the same name..not any more]. The FBI caught up w/ him. He spent 2yrs of a 6 yr sentence at the Fed pen out by Edwards Airforce base.[its closed now]
To this day my MOM is still paying restitution[300.00/month] for it.
Some advice……stop reviewing/responding to these comments….all it does is get you upset…everyone will have an opinion and there is no changing of them. It wont change anything
Move on, it will get better.
Talk to a counselor.
Talk openly about what has happened w/ your family instead of burying it.[to this day my dad will take no responsibility]
Learn from it.
Thats all I have to say, good luck and I will pray for your family.
what a bunch of bleeding heart liberals
At Ferdinand –
Thank you!
Every generation begets a more liberal generation than the one before it.
Thank God!
If you do the crime you gotta do the time. I’m not buying the – “Gee Wiz – she is really a great person so we will just let her go and she can make payments until the victims are paid back 20 years from now”. I don’t want to see that. She didn’t steal a beer from Von’s. She betrayed a position of trust in a similar way to a police officer stealing or committing some crime. The punishment for a bookkeeper ripping off clients MUST be severe so other person’s in positions of trust or power know if they betray that trust THEY WILL GET HAMMERED. Same thing goes for politicians. If you betray a position of trust and advantage in our society the courts will AND SHOULD hammer you so others in similar positions think twice before stealing $500,000 Dollars. Bank robbers goes to prison for years and they usually get less than $5,000. She nabbed $500,000. Justice must be fair even for White Collar crimes.
If she did it to save a child’s life and pay for some medical operation I would have more sympathy. If she is a gambling addict as has been suggested then I am sorry but that excuse doesn’t earn much leniency on my moral compass.
So how do you feel about “too big to fail” in regards to the banks and those who stated they are too powerful and important within the economy to be charged with any crime? Where you at? you seem to be a justice seeker?
JeremiahJoseph – Sorry but I just can’t take you seriously. You want to hijack the discussion that was going on here for your own “too big to fail” obsession. Why don’t you go play on the below forum. I am sure you will find plenty of people to talk to there:
http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=91
Your right, I do hijack the discussion and push my opinions to hard. Once I submit that comment, theres no going back, LOL.
I agree, if you do the crime you gotta do the time, shouldn’t that apply to everybody? but unfortunately it doesn’t, and that is why I was throwing the Banks under the bus and I didn’t even get into how the corporations and mega rich are stealing from the US by way of tax havens and lowest tax rates in US history.
That’s fine if you can’t take me seriously, I mean how serious do we have to be to hear each other out?
Thanks but no thanks, I like this site.
I still feel it is un-necessary to interrogate anybody on this site, I mean have you ever had a parent go to jail? I mean there is no telling what her kids are going through right now…..
sorry folks,shes just a criminal in the news
I must say this family seems like it is in some serious denial. Obviously someone is not telling them the whole truth and they need to get to the bottom of who that is. I think everyone else already knows who is misleading them, but obviously they are just not getting it. CRIMINALS and ADDICTS (Even gambling addicts) lie.
Besides the point that they had to notice there was EXTRA money being spent in their household than was being brought into the home legally. Did they just turn a blind eye to that too?
287 felonies merits more than just a stint in the Mono County jail, but since AB109 she is getting off easy. Hello what about 287 felonies do they not get? There are probably more also they just couldn’t prove them…. this is not a mere mistake it is multiple CRIMES!
Addicts, as you said, most often lie and are masters of deception. The first ones you fool, after yourself, is usually family. I’m sure DA would have charged family members if it rose to that. Good chance family didn’t know about it until it was too late and are kicking themselves for not getting her help or turning her into police for her own good.
8 yrs. is a prison sentence and not stint in jail. Many ex convicts will tell you that you’re safer in most state prisons than in most county jails. She is lucky to be in Mono, 8 yrs. in LA or Alameda county jail and you’d commit another crime just to be put in prison to stay alive. Then again you could steal the same amount on Wall St. and spend six months federal playing golf with someone like Madoff.
Sad for everyone involved. Hope for healing for all.
Give it a rest the amount was not 500,000 and ther was only three victims not sixteen
I’ve been by her side this whole time. I’ll be by her side when she gets out. Nobody’s going to get anything back with her in jail. I would much rather see her working and paying people back that makes the most sense.
If she was out of jail victims would still only be getting pennies on the dollar and I’m sure the victims never wanted to be in the money loaning business in the first place.
If family doesn’t want her in jail then the family needs to cash in retirement, sell houses, and do what ever it takes to make the victims whole.
Until then the family can visit her in jail.
All of you quit talking your making it worse! Some of us do know the truth! remember ?.We all will answer someday. He will judge!. So be warned be good!. We all know what we have done and have not inside.
“We will all answer someday”
we all pay our debts one way or another this is true
According to the Mono DA, the amount is $500,000. According to Mammoth Police their investigation found that she had 16 clients.
BK
all i said was “not too smart”. it wasnt
14 years is a long time to go without a margarita.
Jamie and Jillian, I’m glad you both love your mother and are there for her. She did make a mistake and is now paying the consequences. I don’t know why people on this site have to condemn her. It’s not like she stole from them, she stole from people she knew.
I don’t hear either of you saying she doesn’t deserve her punishment, you’re just saying she’s a good person despite her actions. Why that bothers people, who can say. They just have no lives and need to be nasty to others.
If I understand correctly, the Paiute Palace has the money….that is exactly the reason why I don’t believe Indian casinos should be allowed in CA.
Keep the devil in Nevada, at least then it’s harder for people to do lose their money. Unfortunately, more and more people are getting hooked on these Indian Casinos. Others have gone bankrupt and some have done crimes to get their gambling money. And what do the people of Inyo County get from having the casino there???
Not a damn thing that I’m aware of!
come on people, I don’t mind the thumbs down (everyone is entitled to their opinion), but I would like to hear from the thumbs downer people…tell me, what is the value gained by Inyo and Mono County (and the people thereof) by having the Paiute Palace here?:
The negatives are well known, I’d like to know the positives.
Paiute Palace is not in Inyo County. Whether it serves the interests of the citizens whose jurisdiction it is in is up to them to decide.
Sugar – I’ll take your bait – I like Paiute Palace. Not as much as Vegas but if I have an itch to go play some Blackjack I like having it as an option. Just because some people have problems with gambling, alcohol, or pick your poison doesn’t mean the “vice” has to go away for everyone who can control themselves.
People also get hooked on QVC and spend themselves into bankruptcy. What are you going to do about that? Take away their TV or everyone’s TV?
Prohibition didn’t work. Drugs laws don’t really work. You think closing an Indian casino is going to fix anything? I am happy for the people who have jobs there. I am happy for whatever programs the casino may support on the Res.
Every person by and large is responsible for their own actions.
@sugar magnolia
I as well appreciate a good counter argument, I mean how are we supposed to learn or grow if we just keep reinforcing our own BS with what makes sense to only us.. and out of credibility and when I feel strongly about something My “real name” is necessary…
First off, are you a member to any of the tribal communities? I ask that because whether you are one who holds a voice of a tribal community actually has a stronger say in what the sovereign nations do at all, but I will still respect your differing opinion. I had to do research on Tribal Sovereignty to fully grasp it, and still learning. Tribes have every right to do anything they please within the boundaries and territories in the effort of sustaining the health, well being, culture and people, unfortunately the rule of law does not allow that to happen.
I wish tribal communities would not move towards the typical casinos myself, I would rather see renewable energy, controversial hemp growing industry for its climate change mitigation purpose’s (lol), recycling, industrial organic farming or something, but outsiders have no stake in what Tribes do on the reservation.
I thought the Paiute Palace saved Dial a ride like ten years ago?
I know the tribe gets to employ a lot of their own, they have money rejuvenated from those who make the decision to donate their money to the casino, for more tribal programs.
The negatives are well known? The Positives? Well the positives of tribal casinos is they actually are granted a avenue to gain capitol and to fully convert into consumerism like “white america” always wanted the indigenous people to conform to, unfortunately a lot of the communities are still in need of federal aid to get by day to day, But for crying out loud give us the land water and resource to be able to survive in this evil self serving capitalistic society, if you look at each reservation in the valley how the heck is any sovereign nation able to survive with no hunting grounds, no adequate water supply, no the ability to be nomadic in the valley (which was key in the survival) Until we have that, we really do not have tribal sovereignty, but you want to be negative about what little growth they are allowed to do?
I dont know who any of you are but you need to stop bashing other people. Cant you guys just stop and think about things you have done in your life that your not so happy with yourself! Like i have said a MILLION times. What my mom did was not right by any means but get a life and stop living and thriving of the drama of the small town and the media that they put out which is all lies to begin with! The worst part about this whole thing is that the DA went to the media about some of the stuff in this post before telling the parties about it! We had no idea that they were continuing on with the “burglary” charge until this post! Thats sad that we had to find out this way! Almost everyone that has commented on this article has no knowledge of the whole story. Im really bummed that i had to move out of town because you people didnt just bash my mom but all of us as a family. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE just stop with you hateful comments about my mom. She really is a wonderful person who simply just made a mistake. This may not get posted just like my last post didnt because people are just to scared to let you know the truth!
First, the District Attorney has every right to issue information about court cases. They are conducted in public and the public has a right to know the outcomes. Press releases also let the people know what their DA is doing to enforce the law. The DA is under no obligation to tell you something before he tells the public. Perhaps your mother’s lawyer should have. Your last post did not get posted because of the obscenity in it.
Enough said,
Benett Kessler
In the US criminal and civil trials are public proceedings for very good reasons. For our justice system to operate properly, and as our founders intended, trials must be conducted in public so the public can be certain that the process is honest, laws are enforced consistently, that evidence supports the verdict and that reasonable sentences are given out.
Jillian & Jaime, sorry for your pain and that of the other victims also. While I am certain that Benett will report the official words and the facts that she gathers, as she should, I also know that if you pay any heed to the condemnation from the pseudonyms that post here, you will be hurt much more. You do have the ability not to read the ignorant BS posted here.
The fundamental yin/yang of the internet is: it is the ultimate in communication freedom & that freedom has, is, and will be, abused to injure and rob.
The unfortunate reality is; getting to acceptance of your new life circumstance is the best chance that you will have to move on with your life. Sucks! but you have to re-assure yourselves that what happened is not your fault and get passed the stupidity thrown at you.
I write this to you with empathy, from first hand experience, and with the hope that you get past this sooner, rather than later.
GREAT post,Russ……agree 100%…
287 felony forgeries do not add up to a mistake. We all make mistakes but stealing over $500,000 from your clients and neighbors is different is evil not an accident.
My mom is a wonderful person and anyone who knows who she really is will say the same exact thing. She made a Mistake. We all learn from our mistakes. Before everyone starts saying how bad of a person my mom is I want everyone to sit and look at them selfs. No ones perfect. We have all made mistakes.
I am so sorry about your mom, I remember your mom so well, I lived in Baldwin Park across from your moms Grandma Ann McLauchlin, I really miss and love her so much.
Two wrongs won’t make it right and prison isn’t right either.
No matter the measure of good or bad, justice is meant to protect the equitable right of freedom for One as is for All, and nothing more. Punishment by and by, is the other side of just. =
She forfeited her right to walk free with honest people when she stole from her customers. I will never understand those who feel even one ounce of sympathy for confessed theives. She knew what she was doing and that it was both morally wrong and illegal. She would be doing it today if she had not been caught. She is getting what she deserves.
Most human beings deserve compassion which doesn’t mean letting them get away with immoral or illegal acts. You’ve made your self-righteous condemnation, so move on. Maybe we could consider why there are so many embezzlements coming to light this year and last.
Benett Kessler
Why are there so many embezzlement this year Bennett?
Are things that hard out there for folks?
Also, where do we as a society draw the compassionate line between “most” human beings who deserve compassion and everyone else who I assume does not? I can’t find it.
Not picking a fight with you, just curious how you would stand on this.
This last statement just looked a bit slippery to me, its probably because I am an idiot.
As for Susan, 8 years reduced to 3 for conduct and time served divided by $500,000.00 = $166,666.00 per year untaxed. Mom may have done it for Jillian, grand baby, old debt, who knows. Jillian may be right, mom could be smart, just not ethical or fair. She may have thought she had no other choice, been set up, who knows???
I apologize for posting on your moms thread Jillian, I acknowledge that I am a selfish hypocrite yet couldn’t stay away and resist some self righteous bottom feeding.
Don’t worry about it, time flies and new dirty laundry will appear in a week or two that will take the eyes off of you, its just tough right now, it will end.
Hang in there!
Keep your head, it’s not your fault.
Truly and with Best Regards,
Be safe and well…
I don’t know a damn thing about it!
Mongo
Mongo,
Good point about drawing any line re: compassion. I started to say all humans deserve compassion, but I then thought about psychopaths and hesitated. They probably need compassion too. Maybe more than most. Their problem is deep and ugly. I can’t claim to understand what makes some people exist without feelings for others. No one knows for sure. Thanks for making that point.
Also, I emailed Mono DA Kendall about where the $500,000 went. He said, “Mrs. Hicks claims that she suffers from a serious gambling addiction. Some records to support that claim.”
Benett
Mongo,
Thanks for making the point about compassion for all versus some. I started to say all and then thought about psychopaths and hesitated. However, they may need it more than most. By compassion I mean respect and consideration as a human being.
We did email DA Kendall and asked what happened to the $500,000. He said, “Mrs. Hicks claims that she suffers from a serious gambling addiction. Some records to support that claim.”
BK
Thanks BK,
That makes sense, a gambling addict would believe that “this time will be different” or I’ll just “borrow” a bit more to make it right.
Thanks for your thoughtful response (and investigative reporting).
Best wishes to the family.
Mongo
“Maybe we could consider why there are so many embezzlements coming to light this year and last.”
It’s usually just greed but perhaps this is different
Let’s judge that by what she spent the money on. In my case it was hot tubs, toy haulers, big screen tv’s, diamonds, expensive vehicle rims and the list goes on.
Bennett,
What ever became of Roxann Foley? She took money from the bank in Bridgeport.
She went from Mono to the federal court system. Will check it out.
BK
Or what ever happened with the embezzlement at Inyo Mono Body? I didn’t hear what happened there.
The last we checked, a couple of weeks ago, Bishop Police Chief Chris Carter said his officers were still investigating and expected to deliver a report to the DA.
BK
She sounds like a crook to me, if was very smart she would not have done it.
I feel for Jillian and the family.. But being a victim of embezzlement sorry doesn’t cut it for me either. Full restitution is what makes me feel better, and is the only thing that should keep her out of jail.
The judge came down pretty hard on her which makes me think no restitution could be made.
hang in there Jillian
Hmmm let me see Ms Jillian Hicks……. Did you ever think of what your mother put the multiple families through that she that she embezzled from? How much time and grief they have went through? Much less the tax payers that have had to pay for law enforcement to spend countless hours investigating, DA time, judges time, trial, and now her incarceration… sorry it doesn’t fly with me. Knowingly forging checks isn’t just a “Mistake” it is criminal act pure and simple. No matter what your family was going through it doesn’t justify what she did.
Just a fact.
And, the Paiute Palace loses yet another serious player…at least for 6 more years.
not too smart
My MOTHER is a VERY smart woman! people make mistakes and learn from them, you have no idea what my family was going through at the time and currently so please refrain from saying things that you have no knowledge of!
In these difficult times where the rich are getting richer while people are losing their jobs and the price of groceries slowly increases week to week and certain political groups are wholeheartedly supporting the rich, some people are finding themselves in desperate situations.
Get used to it.
Jillian- good luck to you and your family. I’m glad your standing up to those negative bottom feeders!
Hey Jillian – Where is all the stolen money at? Did you benefit from the stolen funds? Did it pay for anything you use like food or a car or anything?
What are your thoughts about the families and/or individuals who were victimized to the tune of hundreds of thousands of Dollars?
Hey sean – How do you find it necessary to ask such questions when Jillian is a victim of her mom’s actions as well? Yes she may have indirectly benefited somehow but why kick somebody while they are down?
All of you bashing this Individual for stealing, where was your outrage when the investment bankers tanked our whole economy? AND GOT AWAY WITH IT! Wheres the outrage for that? I mean we happen to still be paying for that. Oh wait, I forgot the elite/rich/powerful don’t have to answer to the same justice system we do.. Where’s the outrage in that?
I’m plenty outraged over our tanked economy.
Don’t care much for realtors either.
JJ: Good points. Not only did the bankers get away with it, they got bonuses.
Remember Martha Stewart? 6 months for $61,000? And the bankers got — well, nobody really knows how much they got.
I guess the moral is if you are going to commit a crime — go big.
Jeremiah – Your statements reflect a lack of understand of how the US economy functions. Some guy with your same name was babbling the same nonsense in the 1800’s during one of our 56 prior recessions.
Just keep on worrying about your New World Order conspiracy theories and you’ll be fine.
Not to mention your econ comments don’t really apply to the topic here.
I think my question to Jillian are perfectly valid. I didn’t make her start posting here. And I still don’t think they have expressed any concern for the victims who now maybe can’t send their children to college or pay for a medical procedure. Or expend their businesses or give their employees a raise.
How do you know who is and who is not a victim in this case?
sean,
I’m saying what is the use in doing interrogation questions here on this blogging sight or in other words why attack the daughters of the alleged perpetrator, they didn’t commit the crime, don’t hold them to something that they didn’t do!
Now we are in a debate, Lack of understanding of the US econ? and has nothing to do with this thread? I made it something to do with this thread since “JUSTICE” is on topic and some of the public would rather set their sights on the small and weak targets when those bigger crimes that I mentioned have a bigger effect but is swept under the rug and people go with it!
I’m not a fear monger our someone who believes in a lot of the conspiracy theories, But I am somebody who see’s the urgency to speak up and do something about our dire situation.
Yeah sure your questions are valid but it reeks the typical cop approach, that would rather take someone to jail than actually serve the public..
Your cheap shots at me look like your own insecurities showing its face.
Ken,
Go big is right!
Mark,
I’m outraged to, unfortunately the elite rich has become the ruling class, but there is answer to it, call up sen. Fuller and tell her staff that money in politics is a cancer on our economy/politics/well being and that it is priority #1, California is such a huge state that even the state legislators are side stepping such a big issue, she needs more independent and republican voters calling her office so it’s taken seriously, California needs a stat legislator (sen. or assembly) to introduce a resolution that calls for a article V convention, in the convention the goal would to add a 28th amendment to the constitution to have Publicly funded elections, not private, and ending corporate person hood. Until we get that influence out the way, trying to address Immigration, climate change, or any of the daunting tasks at hand is a fail before it starts, for profits and the bottom line will always under mine the will of the people…
Our justice system is a JOKE! it’s all about money! Who’s willing to debate that? Our political system is a joke! It’s all about money! Debate? with that understanding why bother with the expending energy in the ways that pin blame in areas that distract attention elsewhere.