Tiffany (Trout) Rothkehl, 26, of Modesto entered a guilty plea to charges of grand theft and falsifying/destroying corporate books, while her sister, Hilliary Lynn Trout, 23, of Delhi pleaded guilty to the charge of grand theft.
Trout’s attorney, John Casenave, said even though the sisters pleaded guilty, there is still a question as to how much they owe in restitution.
“We admitted there was a theft, just a matter of how much was taken,” Attorney John Casenave said, who represents Trout. “Pleaded out to a theft and it has yet to be determined if it is a felony or misdemeanor.”
Whether the thefts rise to the level of a felony — and how much the sisters will pay in restitution — will be determined at the sentencing.
According to court documents, the two sisters worked at Dhillon Hospitality Management in Tracy between 2009 and 2011. Rothkehl worked as the company office manager, while Trout was the bookkeeper overseeing the company payroll.
Prosecutor Stephen Taylor said the court has yet to determine how much was taken from the business.
Company records reportedly showed a $14,600 loss in payroll and a personal credit card under Rothkehl’s name, but company owner Rupinder Dhillon has reportedly told authorities that his losses are in the tens of thousands of dollars, Taylor said.
A restitution hearing and sentencing has been scheduled in Manteca court for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 5 before Judge Ron Northup, who has overseen all stages of the case against Trout and Rothkehl.
At that hearing, Dhillon is expected to address the court and produce evidence as to how much financial loss he experienced, Taylor said.
Taylor said that, based on the charges, the two sisters could be sentenced to five years felony probation with a jail term of 120 days in San Joaquin County Jail.
Attorney Robert Remlinger, who represents Rothkehl, was unavailable for comment.
• Contact Denise Ellen Rizzo at 830-4225 or drizzo@tracypress.com.
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