Self admitted thief trys to rip off justice system

WOODS BAY – Paul Matteucci told authorities that he stole money from his employer so he could find a place to live. But he probably wasn’t thinking that place would ultimately turn out to be jail.

When Matteucci began his job as a waiter and bartender at a Woods Bay bar he might not have mentioned that he enjoyed gambling. But the summer-hire’s compulsion to play keno cost him his job and a potential jail sentence, but it cost his employers their ability to keep their doors open, according to Lake County court records.

Two managers of the Sitting Duck Bar contacted Lake County Sheriff’s officials and accused Matteucci of stealing about $2,430 from company bank bags and gambling pots while working a summer job at the bar.

In November 2013, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies issued a citation and Matteucci, who is on probation for three Flathead County convictions on similar charges, admitted his guilt.

The problem, however, was that Matteucci was certain he didn’t steal as much as his employers thought.

So in December a Lake County deputy went to visit the bar managers. When he arrived  the deputy noticed that the Sitting Duck building was empty, and the bar was not open for business.

One of the managers explained that the stolen money was the business’ operating capital, and that at first Matteucci said he would pay the money back during his next shift; then he said he didn’t steal as much as his employers thought; then he said that he would only pay back part of the money.

The next day, while Matteucci was in custody and being interviewed on a different matter, the self admitted thief said, what began as a draw on his paycheck got out of hand and that he’d spent the money gambling.

Matteucci “said the money he took started off as a draw against his paycheck and it was a couple hundred dollars to begin with. (Matteucci) said he needed to use the money to win the keno jackpot in order to get a place to live. (Matteucci) said that the most he thought he put into the keno game was $1,000 to $1,500.”

To keep him honest, Matteucci said another bartender wrote down the money he took. To make matters worse, Matteucci was given money to buy alcohol for the bar, but when another employee made the purchase, Lake County court records said that Matteucci failed to give the money back.

Authorities believe Matteucci gambled the money away.

After several failed attempts to collect the owed money from Matteucci, the gambling bartender was ordered to take his chances in court and appeared before District Court Judge James A. Manley.

Manley ordered Matteucci be arraigned on charges waged against him, which were felony theft for an amount over $1,500.

After Matteucci plead not guilty, two jury trials were set, but at his omnibus hearing Matteucci’s defense attorney Thane Johnson, asked for a continuance until after his client finished an outstanding criminal matter in Flathead County.

On Sept. 17, Matteucci plead guilty to felony theft. His Oct. 29 sentencing hearing was moved to Nov. 12.