The investigation started in January when Jaycee Newman Inc. co-owner Deborah Newman contacted the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office with allegations that 51-year-old Jackie Lynn Stevens, of Damascus, had embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from Newman's business.
Jaycee Newman Inc. is a specimen tree nursery brokerage based in Boring, Oregon.
Newman told detectives she found suspect Jackie Stevens' company -- Accurate Bookkeeping Solutions -- via a referral from another nursery, after posting a bookkeeper job listing on Craigslist. Newman asked around and found other people she knew who had used Stevens' services, and ultimately hired Stevens to conduct bookkeeping for Jaycee Newman Inc.
Sheriff’s Office detectives began an in-depth investigation taking several months.
It was discovered the thefts by Jackie Stevens took place over the period of 2015-19, totaling over $500,000. Jackie Stevens had been writing company checks to herself without permission, forging the owner’s signature. Stevens then covered up the transactions using her bookkeeper's access to the company’s financial records.
Investigators have probable cause to believe that between January 2015 and January 2019, while employed with Jaycee Newman, Inc. as the company's bookkeeper, Jackie Stevens forged hundreds of business checks totaling over $500,000.
After collecting sufficient evidence, investigators presented the case to the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office. Charges were filed against Jackie Lynn Stevens and warrants issued for her arrest on Dec. 19, 2019.
On Jan. 9, 2020, Jackie Stevens turned herself in at the Clackamas County Jail. A booking photo is attached. Stevens was booked on 63 counts, for the following charges:
• 45 counts of Aggravated Theft I
• 5 counts of Computer Crime
• 5 counts of Forgery I
• 7 counts of Identity Theft
• 1 count of Theft I
With the assistance of Key Bank, to date Jaycee Newman Inc. has been able to recover $27,862.31 of the stolen money.
Source: Clackamas County Sheriff's Office