craigdailypress.com

The owner of a former Craig business, who had pleaded guilty to a criminal charge alleging he stole money from clients, was sentenced Thursday in Moffat County District Court.

In February, Kelly Grinolds, 50, the former president and sole shareholder of Poznet Solutions, or Poznet Recovery Services, pleaded guilty to theft for more than $15,000, a Class 3 felony.

He appeared Thursday in District Court with his attorney, Douglas Timmerman.

Grinolds pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement with the Ninth Judicial District Attorney's Office, which handled the case as part of a special prosecution at the request of the 14th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

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 were in Craig or Steamboat Springs.

On Thursday, Senior Judge Charles Buss sentenced Grinolds to four years deferred judgment, supervised probation, 300 hours of community service and ordered the defendant to pay $48,552 in restitution to his former clients.

He also was ordered to pay $2,836 in court costs, fines and fees.

The deferred judgment means Grinolds will be subject to probation, and if he complies with stipulations while completing the four-year probationary period, his conviction would be withdrawn and the case dismissed.

Paying full restitution is one of his requirements. If he does not comply, the conviction would stand.

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

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

The District Attorney's Office requested the Ninth handle the case because the office was allegedly a victim of Poznet's, though it never was listed among the victims in the criminal complaint against Grinolds.