Carmichael woman sentenced to prison for embezzling from youth organizations

A Carmichael mother was given prison time for her role in taking thousands of dollars from youth organizations.

Jennifer Haymart was sentenced to two years in state prison for two counts of grand theft. Haymart, who originally faced eight felony charges, agreed to a deal in March to plea no contest to two of the counts.

She was accused of embezzling $53,000 from the Carmichael Little League and tens of thousands more from the Deterding Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization in 2017. Haymart served as a volunteer treasurer for both organizations.

The Sacramento County’s District Attorney’s Office accused Haymart of writing checks to herself from the organization’s accounts, forging forms and attempting to cover up the crime when suspicion arose.

Judge David De Alba began Thursday’s sentencing by listing numerous letters he received from members of the Carmichael Little League and Deterding Elementary School asking for Haymart to be punished and letters from friends and family testifying to her character, asking for leniency.

Four victim impact statements were made from people involved in the baseball league and the school.

Carmichael Little League faced financial hardships for years following the theft, struggling to continue operations and postponing necessary improvements. Money had to be raised by children and families to support the league and allow baseball to continue.

“Our fields are a home away from home,” said Ken Vogel, the vice president of the board of directors for Carmichael Little League.

Deterding Elementary School faced similar hardships following the embezzlement, preventing any money for classroom supplies and threatening the school’s arts program. Haymart was responsible for counting money from fundraising events like a penny drive, leaving estimates on the amount of the theft hard to confirm.

“We believe she literally stole pennies from children, including her own,” Laura McHugh, president of the school’s PTO at the time, said.

All expressed concern and anger over Haymart’s betrayal of fellow volunteers, many of whom saw her as a trusted friend.

Haymart addressed the court and apologized publicly for her actions, tearing up as she spoke. She expressed a desire to return to her children and relatives.

“Please know I have done everything I can to right the wrongs that I have done,” Haymart said.

Haymart’s lawyer, Alin Cintean, urged the judge to consider probation due to the coronavirus pandemic and the danger it presents in prisons. Cintean explained that Haymart requires various medicines that put her health at risk. Additionally, he said Haymart is the primary caregiver to both her children and sick mother.

“We cannot put COVID aside. Life has changed for all of us,” Cintean said.

The Sacramento County’s District Attorney’s Office argued that Haymart already agreed to the plea deal, which called for two years in state prison and restitution to the victims. Had Haymart gone to trial and been convicted, she could have faced up to four years and four months in state prison.

Due to the amount of money stolen, totaling more than $100,000 across the two crimes, Haymart faced a “white collar enhancement” that called for her sentence to be served in state prison and allowed a temporary restraining order against her house for restitution payment.

De Alba had concerns that Haymart had previously agreed to the deal willingly, knowingly and voluntarily, and that the two-year sentence was a part of that deal. Sentencing another way could lead to starting over with a new deal or even a trial.

The judge expressed that he had to follow the guidelines of the plea deal, believing she had breached her position of trust. He added that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation was doing the best it could to control the virus and that Haymart could ask for leave if exposed.

Cory Adams, the president of the board of directors for Carmichael Little League, expressed that the organization was happy with the decision. Adams said it was a reasonable sentence and was glad that the community and judge held Haymart accountable for her actions.

This story was originally published July 30, 2020 at 4:54 PM.