Judge: McArthur may live in Washington despite being on supervised Idaho probation

A judge on Friday modified probation for the former executive director of the Post Falls Senior Center who was sentenced last month for embezzling from the organization.

Senior Judge George Carey on Friday allowed Alison McArthur, 49, to live in Washington, where Idaho probation and parole has no authority.

Carey did not change District Court Judge Cynthia K.C. Meyer’s order for two years of supervised probation, but said because McArthur’s husband — who is dying of cancer — needs his wife’s assistance, McArthur would be allowed to stay outside the purview of Idaho probation officers while technically remaining under supervised probation. Idaho probation has no jurisdiction in Washington.

“The defendant may reside (in Washington),” Carey said. “In the event that her husband dies (she must) move to Idaho within 60 days. I understand it will present problems for the department of probation and parole.”

When McArthur was sentenced to 365 days in jail with 300 days suspended and ordered to pay $3,500 restitution in addition to being supervised by Idaho’s probation and parole, Meyer commented on the favorable arrangement.

“I think this is a very good deal,” Meyer said.

Carey sweetened the arrangement despite protests from prosecutors and the president of the senior center.

“This is essentially a request to modify her sentence,” deputy prosecutor Julia Schoffendahl said. “The underlying facts of the case and the reason why Judge Meyer sentenced her to supervised probation is relevant.”

Senior Center president Greg McLean, who is also Post Falls police captain, said McArthur’s tenure at the center, the embezzlement case and its fallout irreparably damaged the center.

“Since Ms. McArthur, the financial status of the center is grim,” McLean said. “Since the trial and publicity, our donations have gone down tremendously. We have had public come to me concerned about donating. We have been tremendously hurt by what has happened.”

McArthur ran the center for six years before being fired in 2017, when she was accused of stealing money from the center to repair her car, pay her personal telephone bills and pay for a 2016 trip to Disneyland, according to court records.

“You can’t take advantage of people this way,” Schoffstall said at McArthur’s sentencing. “It’s socially unacceptable. It’s wrong.”

McArthur kept the center’s books, but toward the end of her tenure she prohibited board members from reviewing the finances, according to a police report.

“While McArthur was at the Center she was in full control of the Center’s finances ... toward the end, McArthur would not let anyone look at the books and (the board) purely went off what McArthur was telling (them),” wrote Det. Kip Hollenbeck of the Post Falls police in his report.

“What you have done has hurt the community,” Meyer said at sentencing. “There is a price that needs to be paid.”

Carey on Friday wished McArthur’s husband the best.

“I hope things work out well for him,” the judge said.

His order did not change Meyer’s original order, he said.

“She will still be on supervised probation,” Carey said.