Logan woman sentenced to jail for embezzling thousands from employer

Booking photo for Irene M. Hendrix (Courtesy: Cache County Jail).

LOGAN — A 49-year-old Logan woman has been sentenced to jail after previously confessing to embezzling thousands of dollars from her prior employer. Irene M. Hendrix was ordered to serve 60-days behind bars and then be placed on home confinement for 120-days.

Hendrix was sentenced in 1st District Court Tuesday morning. She previously pleaded guilty but mentally ill to three counts of unlawful dealing with property by a fiduciary, a second-degree felony; and, two counts of unlawful acquisition of a financial card without consent, a third-degree felony. She faced 28 charges originally, but prosecutors dropped 23 of them as part of a plea agreement.

Hendrix was an employee at a local company that provided financial services for elderly and disabled clients. She was entrusted with holding their funds, including Social Security, and then paying their living expenses, rent or other bills.

In June 2018, business managers began noticing inaccuracies in customers’ accounts. They later determined that she had taken $120,000 from 40 clients.

During Tuesday’s sentencing, Hendrix tearfully told the court she was full of remorse and shame for what she did. She explained that when she first started taking the funds she intended to pay them back.

Cache County Deputy Attorney Barbara Lachmar said years ago Hendrix would have been sent to prison for what she did. She explained that the company’s reputation was severely tarnished. Thankfully, since the company had an insurance bond in place, the victims are being paid back.

Defense attorney David Perry asked for the court to sentence Hendrix to probation instead of jail, noting that she had several health conditions that could make incarceration difficult for the sheriff’s office. He said she was also receiving treatment from Bear River Mental Health.

Judge Brian Cannell agreed with prosecutors that the case warranted some jail time. He explained that he was sickened by how Hendrix took advantage of some of the most vulnerable in society. He said he would allow a couple weeks for lawyers to contact the jail, and make sure they can house her. He also ordered her to complete 150 hours of community service, and not work for any type of fiduciary company again.

Judge Cannell expressed optimism for Hendrix’s future, noting, though, that redemption is a hard road. He hoped that she could find a place where she can replace shame with positive acts.

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