Mediation scheduled in marina embezzling case

COEUR d'ALENE — Mediation has been scheduled in the case of a former Hagadone Marine dockmaster accused of embezzling more than $400,000 from his employer.

Anthony Parks, 37, faces one count of grand theft for allegedly stealing $467,799 through small transactions at the marina between 2005 and 2015. Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh told The Press in an email that during the mediation, scheduled for April 27, his office will discuss potential alterations to the charge with Parks' defense attorney.

"The goal of mediation is to reach an agreement between the parties to avoid trial," McHugh wrote.

McHugh added that a visiting judge typically serves as a mediator at the hearings.

According to court records, an employee with the Hagadone Corp. conducted an accounting review of the marina's books and discovered irregularities associated with cash refunds at the marina. The employee, according to records, would later tell police that all the cash refunds were tied to boat rentals that never actually occurred.

Upon discovering the irregular refunds, the employee installed security cameras at the marina which, according to records, recorded Parks issuing a cash refund for $477 and putting the money in his pocket shortly after. When management confronted Parks on Oct. 15, 2015, he reportedly admitted to taking money on multiple instances as far back as 2009.

Law enforcement officers were informed of the allegations and according to investigators, Parks told them he conducted the fraudulent transactions two or three times a week between 2009 and 2015.

Court records state Parks said he started taking the money after he conducted a cash refund in 2009 and discovered he did not have to justify the refund to the accounting department. However, an audit of the marina's books revealed fraudulent cash refunds dating as far back as 2005.

Parks was arrested on Oct. 23, 2015, for grand theft.