General manager of business in State College area accused of stealing $33K
The general manager of Applebee’s in the State College area was accused Friday of stealing more than $33,000 from the business.
Shannon L. Mathis, 45, of Blair County, was charged with felony counts of theft and forgery, as well as a misdemeanor count of tampering with records.
The monthslong Patton Township police investigation began after the chain bar and grill noticed discrepancies between its internal records and bank statements from July until November, an officer wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.
An area director told the officer numerous bank deposit receipts were carefully cut in half and taped together with previous ones. The receipts showed the correct date and time of the deposit, but reflected a different amount, police wrote.
The altered receipts were then submitted to the business’ internal records system and displayed a different amount than how much was deposited, police wrote.
Two people who confronted Mathis about the discrepancies told police she admitted to stealing deposits and altering the receipts. Mathis estimated she owned the business about $4,000 to $5,000, police wrote.
But the chain alleged she actually stole about $34,400, telling police that 21 deposits were never submitted to the bank.
During a February interview, police said Mathis admitted to stealing one deposit last summer to help a family member. Mathis also said she paid the money back within a week, police wrote.
Two assistant managers of the location at 12 Colonnade Way told the officer Mathis was possessive about handling deposit reports. On the rare occasions when Mathis did not submit the reports, one of her assistants told police she was unable to find bank receipts.
She also said Mathis was “experiencing financial hardship due to problems in her personal life,” police wrote. The officer said Mathis did not respond to his repeated phone calls seeking a second interview.
She was suspended without pay, police wrote. A message left Monday with the chain was not immediately returned. No defense lawyer was listed.
Mathis was arraigned Friday by District Judge Casey McClain, who released her on $5,000 unsecured bail. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.