LAKE HAVASU CITY — A woman who ripped off her Lake Havasu City employer over a four-year period avoids prison, provided she complies with terms of the plea agreement entered on her behalf at the Mohave County Law and Justice Center. Diane Radonich, 55, pleaded guilty September 9 to theft in a deal dismissing a fraud charge.
Deputy Mohave County attorney Rod Gilleo said Radonich stole more than $80,000 from North Shore Plumbing from April, 2021 through May, 2025.
Investigators alleged Radonich failed to pay taxes for the business while working as an office assistant and diverted company funds to her personal Paypal account.
Gilleo said she deposited more than $9,000 into that account and that she paid herself more than $74,000 as mileage reimbursement when commuting to work from Chino Valley. He said none of the activity was authorized by the company.
Gilleo said police records contain conflicting information regarding the amount of loss suffered by North Shore Plumbing. But he said the company, and its owner, are satisified with Court ordered restitution of $83,309.46, at least for now, and that there may be requests for additional restitution going forward.
North Shore Plumbing owner Doug Brummett used ZOOM to provide input to the Court, noting that the defendant is his sister.
“The only think I would like to say or ask is ‘why’”, he said. “I don’t understand why this happened.”
Radonich said it would take too long to answer the question, but that she would do so once she is out of custody.
“There’s no excuse for what I did,” she said earlier in the hearing. “I do apologize. I am sorry.”
Defense attorney Ross Carponelli said Radonich suffers from anxiety, depression and PTSD. And he asserted her mental health issues are connected to her poor judgment and criminal involvement.
Judge Billy Sipe expressed concern that Radonich has four prior felony convictions related to property crimes, though none of them in the last ten years. Sipe said he also must respect that the victim is satisfied with punishment outlined in the plea.
Sipe placed Radonich on probation for seven years. He imposed a 210 day county jail term, crediting her with the 99 days she has already served.
Her release should come just after Christmas.
