Ex-Santa Pal Executive Director To Serve 2 Years For Embezzlement

By Michael Owens
Reporter / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: August 21, 2008

BRISTOL, Va. – Jimmie Clark’s voice cracked when explaining to his children that “daddy ... did wrong.”

Minutes earlier, he had pleaded guilty to six counts of embezzlement and apologized for pocketing $91,426.90 worth of donations while executive director for local Christmas charity Santa Pal.

“I always thought I’d be able to cover the money,” he said Wednesday afternoon in Bristol Virginia Circuit Court. “I will do everything in my power to repay Santa Pal as soon as possible.”

His voice wavered seconds later as he sought forgiveness from his family.

“I’m sorry for what I have done,” said the 33-year-old from Watauga, Tenn.

Family members cried when bailiffs led Clark from the courtroom. He will serve two years and eight months in prison as part of a plea agreement reached with prosecutors.

Bristol Commonwealth’s Attorney Jerry Wolfe dropped four additional embezzlement charges as part of the plea deal.

“That was part of the negotiation and an encouragement to have the defendant raise as much restitution ... as soon as he could,” Wolfe told Judge Larry B. Kirksey.

Santa Pal officers watched and waited to learn how much Clark would have to repay. Judge Kirksey surprised them by ordering Clark to repay the entire amount.

“We are glad that we are going to get full restitution,” Santa Pal board secretary Tammy Henkel said outside the courtroom.

Clark has to devise a repayment plan within four months of his prison release, Kirksey ordered. Already, Clark has scraped together $30,300 for a trust account created for restitution.

Police investigators initially suspected Clark of pilfering $75,000. The total climbed as investigators pored through five years of receipts. Clark’s dual role as the charity’s executive director and treasurer afforded him unfettered access to the group’s bank account.

Clark took over the leadership role at Santa Pal in 2002. At the time, it was a paid position, but a year later the job became a volunteer role when one of the charity’s top financial sponsors declared bankruptcy.

The United Way of Bristol now provides the checks and balances missing under Clark’s tenure by controlling all Santa Pal finances.

Santa Pal was founded by the Bristol Herald Courier 81 years ago to provide needy children with Christmas gifts and food for local families. The Herald Courier ended its role as overseer in 1998, but newspaper employees continue to serve on its board of directors.

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