Remorseful Deason pays back victims,
but must serve 150 days in county jail
By Lenny Roberts
After entering a guilty plea in Ventura County Superior Court, former bank employee Randi Deason, 33, was sentenced to 150 days in county jail Monday on one felony count each of forgery and grand theft. In addition, she will be on probation for 48 months.
According to court records, the crimes were committed between February 2005 and June 2006.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Wise said the Ventura Police Department began investigating when the victim discovered a $4,000 shortage after making a deposit in Ventura. A bank investigator reported then that there were recent withdrawals made at the Ojai Washington Mutual branch, and no one else had permission to withdraw funds from that account.
The account was maintained by a former Ojai resident, a reported friend of Deason’s. In the end, Deason admitted taking $46,545, all of which has been paid back by Deason.
Deason, the married mother of two children, was an employee at the bank for 12 years.
“It is what it is,” Deason said Tuesday in a phone call placed to the OVN. “I apologize and am shameful. I have to walk around with my head held high. We’re all human. This was a mistake I made and am paying the consequences.”
She said she has no idea why she committed the crimes, and she was treated fairly by the court. She did, however, insist that she turned herself in and not “caught,” as was reported in other media Tuesday. “Because of that, I have become a better person,” Deason said.
Victor Thasiah, pastor at Holy Cross Church where Deason attends, spoke to the court at Deason’s sentencing. He described her as being remorseful and humiliated by what she has done.
“She turned herself in and has owned up to what she did,” Thasiah said.
“Her character is incredible. I admire and respect her as a person, but I see her being torn apart.”
Since the crimes were committed, Deason has been baptized at Holy Cross Church, “Because,” she said, “of Pastor Victor. We live in a small town. I did something bad and I have to pay for it. I’ll just hold my head high.”
Deason is scheduled to begin serving her sentence Jan. 14.
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40 comments:
LEAVE HER ALONE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY. IN A WEEK YOU WILL HAVE ALL FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT. GET A LIFE PEOPLE !! OW THAT'S RIGHT YOU ARE ALL PERFECT LIVING IN YOUR LITTLE CACCOONS.
It's sounds about as bad as WAMU stealing from me by charging $39 if over the limit even though they extend credit line and for purchase of as little as $4 I was charged $39.
I guess white collar crime is legal when a corporation does it.
I am sorry that this happened to her and know that it took a lot of courage to come forward and fess up. I can honestly say that I am others miss her smiling face at the bank.
She didn't come clean on her own! She only admitted to what she was doing beasue the victims started to finally notice there was money missing. She freaked out and thought the jig was up. This is a person who stole from her bestfriends family! What kind of person does that? At least regular thieves target people they don't know. She not only hurt her life, but what about her friend, and her small children? She will be forgiven but people will not forget the act.
WELL WHO IN THERE RIGHT MIND WOULD NOT SEE THAT KIND OF MONEY COMING OUT OF THERE ACCT. OW PROBABLY SOME DRUG DEALERS.. OOPS DID I SAY THAT. YES THAT IS TRUE SHE GOT CAUGHT UP IN STEALING BUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE CALLED "HER FRIENDS" WERE AS MUCH TO BLAME.
Anonymous,
Are you out of your mind? The victim is now just as bad as the perpetrator? Get a grip on reality.
It's pretty clear that you are buddy-buddy with the thief.
It is odd that the Anonymous who is pretty sure the victims are drug dealers said just about the same thing Ms. Deason said when her pilfering came to light. She blamed it on the victims for not keeping a closer eye on their money. True, it would not gone on as long as it did, but that certainly did not make her any less guilty. And IF the victims money was the result of drug dealing, I am sure that they will soon have some 'splainin to do as to just where they came up with all of that money. Maybe we will be reading about them next.
And Ms. Deason did NOT exactly turn herself in as she stated. The victims DID initiate the investigation as to where their money had gone. And just where the heck did Mr. Deason think the money was coming from that she was out buying all of her high digit toys with? Too bad she did not have to liquidate her toy stash to pay back the money. Makes me think maybe mommy and daddy bailed her out.
I think 5 months in jail is pretty
light. Just think what kind of
time she'd be doing if she had walked into the bank, handed a teller a note and walked out with
46 grand.
And the victims are still suffering due to the whole ordeal. I would expect a lawsuit against the bank for pain and suffering on their part.
All in all, a VERY sad story for all involved.
And if I hear of ONE MORE PERSON who gets caught doing something
stupid finding God, I will puke.
THE DRUG DEALERS SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FILE CHARGES AGAINST HER. I'M GLAD SHE STOLE FROM THEM. CLEAN UP THE STREETS AND MAKE A HEREO OUT OF HER BY SAYING "IF YOU BANK AT WAMU AND HAVE DIRTY MONEY, WE WILL TAKE IT FROM YOU TO BUY HIGH DIGIT TOYS.' AND THERE AIN'T A DAMNED THING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT." I JUST WISH HER EMPLOYER BACKED HER AGAINST THE DRUG CZARS.
SHAME ON THE DRUG CZARS, DRUG WARLORD, CRIMINALS.
ANONYMOUS,
TAKE SOME PEPTO BISMO IF YOU'RE FEELING A LITTLE QUEASY. SOUNDS LIKE YOU KNOW THE "VICTIM" PRETTY WELL.
PAIN AND SUFFERING CASE: MY ILL GOTTEN GAINS ARE MISSING AND I'M DISTRAUGHT OVER IT. I'VE BEEN STONED FOR SO LONG THAT I NEVER KNEW THE MONEY WAS MISSING.
EVER HEAR OF UNCLEAN HANDS? GET A LIFE AND QUIT STICKING UP FOR DRUG DEALERS, AS IF THEIR LOST PROFITS SOMEHOW ENTITLES THEM TO SYMPATHY.
SOMEONE 2: ANONYMOUS CRIME IS OK?
Hey Anonymous are you jealous that her parents had the capabilities to bale her out And stand behind her. She is a lucky lady to have a family that gives a dam. She will serve her time . This is what the system has dealt her if you don't like it . Perhaps you should be more involved in politics and get the laws passed that you feel need to be for the crime. Can I offer you a tissue?
Wow! I can feel the love on these posts. She made choices, fess up and will do the time. Let's not beat here over the head and read into it.
Oh, man. Sounds to me like the thief's friends are ALL stoned. First, you seem to think it is okay to pull off grand theft via forgery if you think it is shady money. Two wrongs do NOT make a right, as they say. Maybe her parents have been bailing her out her whole life and only the prospect of getting caught red handed forced her to "fess up" hoping to get her off a little lighter. Bottom line is SHE STOLE MONEY THAT WAS NOT HERS(does not really matter where the money came from) because she was in a situation where she had been entrusted with not only this
victim's money, but the money of
COUNTLESS other WAMU customers.
Why should ANYONE be jealous of someone who was raised by a family who did not teach their children to know that grand theft/forgery is not okay? She has probably been bailed out her whole life. If they REALLY gave a damn, she'd have been raised better. And she dealt this all to herself. The system just ensured that justice was served.
And as one of the more astute-sounding Anonymous posters pointed out, maybe we WILL be reading about the victims soon. Any IRS agents out there?
Speaking of audits, I wonder if WAMU has done a financial audit of all of the people who worked there with the thief. Did she think this form of theft all by herself or did her fellow employees give her the idea? It would interesting to see if any of them were making purchases that seemed to be beyond their means.
It is about time justice was servered but was it?Hiding behind a church or God does not wash away sin and or CRIME.It should make us all sick that these type off people try and hide there crimes with the church.All criminals pray for forgivness that's why God made prisons,there is more religous people there praying for the same but there family did not have the money to bail there butt out!I wonder if she really is sorry.The only one I feel we should be sorry for is the children that are being raised in that surrounding's.
If she is sorry then we should of made Al Capone pope a long time ago!Ojai should keep on supporting the family bussiness so they can have some money put away for thee next crime.And keep that bible handy in case of an emergancy crime shoulld arise!Hold your head up should be more like embarassed to walk down the street.And she is a mother?WOW!I wonder how far the fruit falls from the tree on this one.
WELL FOR EVERYONE SEEING NO CRIME THIS WAS NOT A ONE TIME CRIME FOR HER SHE DID THIS OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD AND HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO REALIZE WHAT SHE WAS DOING IN THAT TIME FRAME. and as far as her church game to get off easy the most sorry people are in prison which is where she should be not the county jail.. probably paid the money back from all the ILLEGAL MULTIBLE yardsales her and her family keeps having THAT NO ONE ELSE GETS AWAY WITH.. maybe that is how it got paid back.. MAYBE THE STATE TAX BOARD SHOULD INVESTIGATE ALONG WITH THE IRS ALSO...
First off everyone in ojai is not stoned. Perhaps you are as you seem to know what the symptoms of being stoned are. She made a mistake she is serving her time get over it. This is how are system works. If you don't like it move to another country where the laws are different. This is a small town she has to live with it and I am sure she now regrets it deeply. Was it your money? No? Then move on your life will be much better if you do. Dont blame the other employees at the bank. It is a great bank the people are great. Again can I offer you a tissue?
DONT BLAME THE VICTIMS PARENTS/FAMILY. IF YOU ONLY KNEW THEM. ALSO WHAT MAKES YOU THINK HER FAMILY HAS THAT KIND OF MONEY !! SHE DID IT ON HER OWN. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE YARD SALES GO TO THE TOWN. YES WE ARE STANDING CLOSE TO DEASON. THAT IS HOW FAMILY WORKS. SORRY YOU AREN'T CLOSE WITH YOUR FAMILY TO SIT AND BASH OUR FAMILY. WE ARE HOLDING OUR HEADS HIGH. SHE GOT HER SENTENCE AND GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. MOVE ON. SORRY TO THE OTHER FAMILY AS WE'VE AND DEASON HAVE SAID BEFORE........
Dear Muffin..what was in in for you?Crime is done by bad people so they get the bad rap..so because she comes from the little town of ojai it all should just go away...It should be made of what it is...A CRIME TO STEAL PEOPLES MONEY!!It took her 5 years to do the crime..So let her ride the bad rap for awhile.
Well as far as the yard sales mention I love yard sales but she is still doing wrong and illegal - it is illegal for a business to have yard sales when it truly is a business and not your own and not allowed more then three a year for anyone.and WHAT about the taxes from the yard sales?? and sales of illegal mattresses!!yes mattresses are illegal to sale second hand if they are not your own. yes I know of these and I will be reporting them because they are illegal and we are trying to keep our town clean!! everyone has rules and laws and yes her and her family must follow them too without exception or pay the price..the rest of the community does.. why should she think she is exempt!!ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER then I AM SORRY does and it is obvious that muffin is you or a family member and apparently think these actions are fine when in fact they are not.
WHOEVER "THE WORD TRAVELS FAST" IS, GO FROM DEASON TO YARD SALE. YOU HAVE REAL BAD ISSUES YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH.
Muffin,
You are a joke. Accept reality, you're friend/family member/ you are a thief and a criminal and you should be behind bars as an accomplice. I think you should be investigated for aiding and abetting after the fact.
Anything else to say, you criminal?
If Randi Deason is Randi Hurt, and she pilfered from friends, I sure would like my account looked at. I went to school with her. Was I nickel and dimed, too?
Word Travels Fast
Are you kidding me you have your panties in a wad over Mattresses and Yard Sales????? If you want to go that far to keep Ojai Clean then let’s arrest everyone for breaking wind in a public place that might offend someone.
California Penal Code Section 375 (a):
It shall be unlawful to throw, drop, pour, deposit, release, discharge or expose, or to attempt to throw, drop, pour, deposit, release, discharge or expose in, upon or about any theater, restaurant, place of business, place of amusement or any place of public assemblage, any liquid, gaseous or solid substance or matter of any kind which is injurious to person or property, or is nauseous, sickening, irritating or offensive to any of the senses.
Or the next time someone is speeding 26MPH in down town Ojai lets arrest them and throw away the key…. Or better yet I think you should stand at the corner of Park Road and Grand Ave and write down license plate of all the cars that don’t make a complete stop. Here is the California Vehicle Section C.V.C. 22450 (a) this way we can cleanup Ojai.
My point is going from forgery and grand theft which is what this blog is about (and what she did was wrong) to talking about reporting someone for having Yard Sales and selling Mattresses is a little crazy. I think you have a little too much Free Time on your hands!!!! Maybe you should volunteer at Mattress Land on the weekends instead of going to yard sales and make sure to educate everyone about not selling their old mattresses in yard sales.
Scott
Bako Boy looks like you also have to much time on your hands. Get a life people.
Anonymous,
Well yes I will be the first to agree with you about my free time HOWEVER how many posts do you have on this BLOG????? LOL
Keep on talking, folks.
The investigation into her possible partners-in-crime isn't over yet, and the civil suits against Deason haven't even started yet.
Posting anonymously doesn't mean that the VCSD (and a warrant) can't find out who you are and where you live.
" Word travels fast" come n get a life you are going to report the sale of used mattresses . Whoa you are killing me thanks for the laugh. Now channel your energy into something positive, Perhaps you can visit some of are elderly at the gray gables and make them feel loved. Do you need a box of tissues??
you are going to report the sale of used mattresses
You bet. Everytime I see it happening. Ventura County Environmental Health takes it seriously. Nobody else needs to be buying anyone else's fleas, bedbugs, crabs, dust mites, psoriasis, measles, chicken pox, flu, mumps or whatever other bugs & diseases might be on some filthy stinky used mattress.
Anonymous
You bet. Everytime I see it happening. Ventura County Environmental Health takes it seriously.
What do you do about staying at a hotel????? Do you call the front Desk and ask for a new Mattress?
Just curious what you would do?
Well then I wasn't thinking clearly. too much smoke in the room. You are right I am glad you are looking out for the uninformed unsuspecting citizens about these mattresses. They surely don't want the bed bugs to bite. By the way I am really curious in the past were you one of these people you are looking out for now who bought a mattress at a yard sale that would lite up under a black light like no tommorow? I hope you reported them.
What do you do about staying at a hotel????? Do you call the front Desk and ask for a new Mattress?
I don't stay at motels or hotels.
Look in the mirror, people. You all sound totally crazy!!!
"Look in the mirror, people. You all sound totally crazy!!!"
Well I looked but unfortunately I found myself still sane.
It's real easy to post an anonymous comment. If you feel so strongly on this issue, claim your post. People make mistakes,and Randi has pleaded guilty to hers.She will pay the price for her actions, and try to move on with her life. Let's all be bigger people and let her and her family get their back life in order.
Mark. W.
It's real easy to post an anonymous comment.
So says the anonymous "Mark W."
Like, that's what it says on your driver's license, right?
Randi didn't make a mistake. Randi made plans. A mistake is what happens when you don't know that what you are doing is wrong, and Randi knew that what she was doing was wrong.
When people quit defending Randi, other people will quit bashing Randi. Get it? Let it drop. Randi was wrong. If she really has something she needs to say, let her come here and say it herself. Nobody really cares what the rest of you think.
To all the Randy bashes, I love it that you think you are all so clean and perfect. You have never done wrong. Please!!! If I knew who you were I would loved to dig into your past and strap you on a lie detector. She has been convicted and it is over so move on.
According to the article, this woman did this over 1.5 YEARS! I wonder what took so long, wonder what the victims went through/are going through? 5 months with a 2 year probation seems like a VERY light sentence for someone who stole over $40,000!!! Amazing!
I certainly don't know the particulars, or any of the people involved, but have banked with that bank and have to wonder what took this so long to get solved/resolved?
I wonder what the family(ies) that was/were stolen from went through & are going through?
I *DO* agree with "anonymous" about the charges on accounts when using other ATMs (WAMU doesn't charge (Or so they say), but you can go to an ATM at a store that is owned, or supposedly owned, by "out of country" banks or persons without knowing it and get a fee for funds exchange to whatever currency and back to USDs, OD fees when a check is deposited and they don't post immediately, etc. That needs to also be classified as a crime & dealt with as such!
Makes one wonder about who is really working at our banks & who really knows what's going on with our money!?!
This is just sooo heart breaking I know randi and her entire family and they are wonderful people I am so sad that randi made some bad choices that have hurt others but they have hurt her and her family far more than anything. Life is hard mending your wrongs is hard and in that we pay the price for our actions so please people dont be so cruel. Compassion and Forgivness and understanding serve everyone so much better. Good people make mistakes and bad choices the same as everyone else. I send my love and courage to you Randi and family heal, learn, and go forward with life. classmate and friend
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