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The owner of a former Craig business pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon in Moffat County District Court to a criminal charge alleging he stole money from clients in 2006.

Kelly Eugene Grinolds, the former president and sole shareholder of Poznet Solutions, or Poznet Recovery Services, appeared in District Court with his attorney, Douglas Timmerman.

As part of pending plea agreement with the Ninth Judicial District Attorney's Office - handling the case as part of a special prosecution at the request of the 14th Judicial District Attorney's Office - Grinolds pleaded guilty to the sole count, theft over $15,000 in a series, a Class 3 felony.

The criminal complaint alleged Grinolds stole money from at least 13 victims twice or more between July 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2006. Most of the victims are located in Craig or Steamboat Springs.

Under terms of the agreement, Grinolds would pay about $74,000 in restitution and interest.

Senior Judge Charles Buss, presiding over the case Wednesday, said he would not accept the plea agreement unless interest on the restitution was included.

Prosecutor Ed Veronda, a former deputy district attorney in the 14th and now working in the Ninth, told the court he does not intend to seek any jail time for Grinolds.

Grinolds, according to court records, will enter into a deferred judgment. Prosecutors will request Grinolds be sentenced to probation, and if he successfully complies with stipulations and completes the probationary period, the guilty plea would be withdrawn and the case dismissed.

Full restitution would remain a requirement.

If he does not comply, the conviction on the guilty plea would stand.

Poznet closed in March 2007 after a recommendation from a court-appointed receiver to District Court during a legal dispute between the company and The Memorial Hospital.

The 14th Judicial District Attorney's Office conducted an investigation into Grinolds and Poznet and turned over its findings in 2008 to the Ninth, based out of Glenwood Springs.

Bonnie Roesink, District Attorney at the time, said she requested the Ninth handle the case because her office was a victim of Poznet, though neither Moffat County nor the District Attorney's Office were listed among the victims in the criminal complaint.

Buss ordered Wednesday that a pre-sentencing report be prepared for Grinolds' sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. April 1 in District Court.