Bernadette Stanek sentenced to 3 years in prison

Bernadette Stanek, the former development director of Island Hospital Foundation, has been sentenced to serve three years in prison for embezzling at least $140,00 from the foundation, which raises funds to support Island Hospital programs.

In December, Stanek agreed to plead guilty to four counts of first degree theft and five counts of forgery, all felonies, in connection with the theft of more than $300,000. At that time, she agreed to pay $140,000 in restitution.

Judge Michael Rickert on Friday ordered the three-year prison term and ordered Stanek to repay the $140,000.

According to the Skagit Valley Herald, Stanek told the court she hopes that admitting guilt and serving time in prison shows her remorse. “That’s the only way I can show how sorry I am,” she said.

The loss was discovered a little over one year ago when the foundation’s executive assistant opened a foundation credit card bill and noticed discrepancies.

According to a foundation statement in Sept. 2014, the development director, appears to have written checks and forged the required board member’s signature in order to pay the credit-cart charges.” Meanwhile, finance reports to the board were altered so the funds would not show up missing.

The foundation statement said, “inappropriate personal items and services had been purchased with an Island Hospital Foundation credit card.”

Stanek told police she started the misappropriation of foundation funds shortly after she started in the development director position early in 2011.

The Island Hospital Foundation is a non-profit organization which supports the community hospital.