LOGAN — A 55-year-old Logan woman has been sentenced to serve a month in jail for stealing from her employer. Cindy Lynne Lafleur was ordered to turn herself into the Cache County Jail by August 14, after apologizing for what she did.
Lafleur was sentenced August 11 in Logan’s 1st District Court. She had previously accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to theft, a third-degree felony. As part of the agreement, an additional charge was dismissed.
According to prosecutors, Lafleur worked at Leilani Salon & Spa. Instead of having her clients pay the salon for her services, she would secretly have them pay her directly and then bill the company for her agreed upon 60% commission. She was later arrested after the owners discovered the double billing and contacted the Logan City Police Department.
During Lafleur’s sentencing, public defender Shannon Demler said his client was very sorry and embarrassed for what she did. He described how the Logan woman had no criminal history and had paid back the stolen money.
However, Sarah Coulson, the former salon owner argued the restitution was only a fraction of the amount taken. It didn’t account for the value of stolen gift card funds and false tips that were paid over approximately 10 years, ultimately resulting in the sale of the salon.
Lafleur abused the company’s trust in a calculated way, Coulson told the court. “She robbed us of the ability to operate as a business and destroyed our 15 year old company.”
Judge Spencer Walsh said Lafleur betrayed the victim’s trust. He ordered her to serve 30 days in jail, followed by 36 months’ probation, refusing to give her any credit for good time.